Hey friend — here’s the messy little episode: you’re living in a one-bedroom with a partner who does construction and gets terrible back pain, and your seven-month pregnant sister shows up after a big fight with her husband asking to crash and sleep in your bed. Your boyfriend said he couldn’t give it up, you apologized to avoid a fight, and later you found your sister crying in the bathroom. Cue Mom calling and being furious. Ugh.

I totally see both sides: your sister is emotional, pregnant, and needed space, and that’s precious, but your partner’s need for real sleep because of his physical job is also a legit, health-related boundary. This isn’t just about feelings — it’s about a shared home and agreed-upon boundaries, plus the practical reality of one real bed and a couch that’s not ideal every night.

If it were me, I’d start by asking how serious the fight was — if your sister left because she felt unsafe, give her the bed and your full support. If it was a heated argument and she just needed space, a one-night compromise (you on the couch, sister and partner in bed) or a clear, empathetic conversation about limits is reasonable. Neither kindness nor boundaries have to cancel each other out.