Phoebe thought her day couldn’t possibly get any worse when she came home to find her sister and her family settling into her house—without so much as asking. Just as all hope seemed lost, a knock at the door would bring an unexpected twist of instant karma.
Growing up, Phoebe had always been close to her older sister, Holly. But things changed after Holly got married. Although they drifted apart, Phoebe never anticipated what would happen just a few days ago.
At 31, Phoebe was proud of her modest three-bedroom house. She had been working hard for the last ten years to pay it off. Sure, she sometimes envied her friends living in fancy downtown apartments, but at the end of the day, her home was hers—and that meant more than any luxury high-rise.
Her sister Holly, on the other hand, had always been more carefree. At 38, married with two kids, Holly and her husband Nicholas were the type who loved to talk about quitting their jobs to “live life to the fullest” and “escape the rat race.” It was something Phoebe tolerated, but it often drove her crazy.
“Life’s too short to be stuck in a cubicle, Phoebe,” Holly would say during family dinners. Meanwhile, Nicholas would nod in agreement, adding, “Think of all the experiences you could be having!”
But as much as Phoebe warned them about financial responsibility, her sister and brother-in-law continued to live spontaneously—until they made the ultimate leap. A few months ago, Holly called Phoebe to announce that they had sold their house and were embarking on a year-long trip around the world.
“They’re crazy,” Phoebe thought, but she kept her concerns to herself. However, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when the money ran out.
Fast forward a few months, and Phoebe came home from work one day to an unsettling sight—her living room was filled with suitcases, backpacks, and familiar voices. Holly and her family were there, making themselves at home in her house without so much as a text or a heads-up.
“Holly, what are you doing here?” Phoebe asked, barely containing her disbelief.
“We’re back!” Holly said cheerfully. “And we’re staying here for a bit while we figure things out.”
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