Okay Reddit, buckle up because this one might be photosynthesizing a little too hard.

So I (28M, aspiring burrito sculptor and part-time kazoo instructor) live with my roommate, Sarah (27F, vegan, moon enthusiast, collects spoons). Sarah has an emotional support plant named Gregory Leafington III. She says it “helps her aura stay calibrated.” Cool. I support mental health and flora.

But Gregory is... terrifying. He’s one of those big, leafy, sentient-looking monstrosities that always looks like it’s judging me. I swear he moves slightly when I’m not looking. One time I dropped a Dorito near him and when I came back it was gone. I have no proof. Just vibes.

Anyway, I got curious. As a scientist of chaos, I decided to see how long I could replace Gregory with a very realistic plastic plant from IKEA without her noticing. For science. I named the fake plant Chadwick.

Week 1: She didn’t notice. In fact, she said Gregory looked “extra perky.” Chadwick was thriving. Week 2: She started leaving Chadwick affirmations like “You are strong, and your leaves are radiant.” I whispered “thank you” back one night. It felt right. Week 3: She posted a picture of Chadwick on Instagram with the caption: “Self-care is watering your plant AND your soul.” Several of her followers commented “Gregory is glowing!”

Eventually I cracked and confessed. I thought she’d laugh. Instead, she screamed “YOU LIED TO ME AND TO GREGORY!” and stormed off. She hasn’t spoken to me since and Chadwick is now in plant witness protection under my bed.

So Reddit, AITA for gaslighting my roommate by replacing her plant and forming a spiritual bond with a plastic fern?

TL;DR: Replaced my roommate’s emotional support plant with a fake one named Chadwick for 3 weeks, she didn’t notice, I got attached, confessed, now she’s mad and Gregory might be haunting me.