Empty home

Finally, the flat mates who have been staying with me for the past 12 days left an hour or so ago.
I felt a sigh of relief. The house is all the more quieter now. I am free to go and do whatever I want, and no longer have to be cooped in my room, where I have had to cramp my desk so I could work at night.

But now, I somehow feel so empty inside. Empty, and used.

It's not that I expect anything in return for helping a friend and his family in times of need.
But to what extent do you go to help someone and "sacrifice" (or forgo, to sound less dramatic...) your own comfort and freedoms? When does generosity become foolishness and a reason to be used and exploited?

I've had to put up with blaring music early in the morning, blaring music even in the evenings. My room's been entered into, the heating is turned up to the maximum throughout the apartment. And I just got a notice from my internet provider to say that somehow I exceeded my limit last month, and that only 6 days into the new calendar month, I have already gone past 50% of my limit.

My friend left earlier, and I helped carry their belongings to the car.
I received blessings, and was told how kind I am and how grateful I am.

But sometimes mere words cannot really compensate for anything.
It's not about the money, not entirely.
But if you bothered someone and took your family to go stay with a friend for 12 days, would you not offer to contribute something, especially if you fully have the means to do so?
I would feel so ashamed... But then that may be just me, someone who would rather "lie" and say I have a place to stay at already and go stay in a hotel than bother someone for even just one night.

Then again, maybe I'm being unfair to my friend. He's been going through a lot, and his family member is difficult to deal with. Perhaps the last thing on his mind is how to "repay" me.

for the moment, I just feel like I've been taken for granted once again. Like my house, like so many times before, is a place people can seek refuge when they need help. Like I am the fool to will take any body in and not demand anything in return.

As colleagues have said to me, there is a point when nice is being too nice. And then you are just a fool.