I left for a month-long work trip, trusting my neighbor and friend of eight years to water my plants and check my mail like she always had.
But when I returned home three weeks early after losing a major client — and my job — I found a black minivan parked in my driveway.
Confused, I walked up to the house… and froze.
Through the kitchen window, I saw a family sitting at my dining table, eating dinner.
A man carving chicken. A woman pouring wine. Two kids laughing like they belonged there.
I burst inside, demanding to know what was happening.
“We’re renting this house for the week,” the man told me calmly. “We booked it through an online vacation rental site.”
My stomach dropped.
I had never listed my home for rent.
Only one person had my keys.
I ran across the street to my neighbor’s house. The moment Lisa saw me, her face went pale.
“I didn’t know you’d be back,” she whispered. “I only ever rented it when you were gone.”
For a year, she’d secretly turned my house into a vacation rental — without asking, without telling me, pocketing every cent.
A week later, she paid me back over $15,000 in earnings.
Our friendship was over.
But six months later, my house was officially listed online — professionally managed and finally earning income.
This time, on my terms.
Note: This is a fictional story inspired by real events.