Phoebe thought her day couldn’t get any worse when she came home to find her sister and her family settling into her house—without so much as a text. 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 the events of a few days ago.
At 31, Phoebe was proud of her modest three-bedroom house, a space she had worked hard to pay off over the past ten years. Sure, she sometimes envied her friends living in swanky downtown apartments, but her home was hers—and that meant more than any luxury high-rise.
Holly, on the other hand, had always embraced a more carefree lifestyle. At 38, married with two kids, Holly and her husband, Nicholas, often talked about quitting their jobs to “live life to the fullest” and “escape the rat race.” Phoebe tolerated this perspective, though it often drove her a bit crazy.
“Life’s too short to be stuck in a cubicle, Phoebe,” Holly would say at family dinners, with Nicholas nodding in agreement and adding, “Think of all the experiences you could be having!”
Despite Phoebe’s warnings 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 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, wondering what would happen when the money ran out.
Fast forward a few months: Phoebe came home from work one day to an unsettling sight—her living room filled with suitcases, backpacks, and familiar voices. Holly and her family had moved in, making themselves at home without so much as 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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