My fresh start quickly turned into a nightmare when my neighbor, Mr. Johnson, decided to build a garage on my property without permission. But with the help of determined friends and some sledgehammers, I took matters into my own hands and reclaimed my garden.
I’m Cynthia, 42, a single mother of two. A few months ago, we moved into a new house with a beautiful garden, hoping for a fresh beginning. Little did I know that my neighbor would bring trouble to our doorstep.
The day we were unpacking, Mr. Johnson showed up. He was tall and intimidating, skipping any niceties. “I’m building a garage, and part of it will be on your property. The previous owner gave me permission,” he said gruffly.
I was shocked. “I’m the new owner, and I don’t give my consent,” I replied firmly.
His face flushed with anger. “You don’t understand. It’s already agreed.”
“I understand perfectly. But this is my property, and I won’t allow it,” I said, standing my ground.
For the next few days, Mr. Johnson kept coming over, waving documents and trying to convince me. Each time, I refused.
After returning from a weekend visit to my mother’s, I was stunned to find a fully built garage in my garden, taking up almost the entire space.
“How could he do this?” I gasped, my kids looking up at me with worried faces.
“What are we going to do, Mom?” my daughter asked.
“We’ll handle this,” I said, determined. While I considered legal action, I decided to try something else first. Walking around the garage, my frustration grew. This was my garden, and I wasn’t going to let him take it.
That night, I called my friends—Lisa, Mark, and Jess. They were all eager to help me dismantle the garage.
“Are you sure about this, Cynthia?” Lisa asked.
“Yes, he crossed the line,” I replied confidently. Mark, strong and handy, offered to lead the effort, and Jess brought the tools. We were ready to take back what was mine.
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