When Stella gets home from a business trip, she settles into her routine by watching the security footage to make sure that everything was okay during her absence. But soon, she sees that uninvited guests made themselves very comfortable, celebrating the 4th of July in her space.
When I finally got back from my business trip, the first thing I did was check the footage from my security cameras. A few weeks before that, my boyfriend and I had watched a documentary on the topic, and it was insane.

A woman in a suit | Source: Midjourney
“The mice really do come out to play when the cat is away,” Nathan said. “You can’t trust people in your own home.”
“I know!” I agreed.
The documentary was about a young couple’s helper taking over the house while they were away.

A couple sitting and watching TV | Source: Midjourney
There were scenes of drinking and drugs and an overcrowded house. Only for them to clean everything away before the couple returned.
Now, I sat in my sweatpants at my desk and waited for the footage to load. If I was being honest, all I wanted was to check on whether the neighbors, the Jacobs, had done anything.

A woman sitting at a desk | Source: Midjourney
They had been a constant nuisance, always finding reasons to complain or call the police on me due to noise complaints. Their favorite target was the construction of my pool when, to be honest, it was pretty loud.
“You’re young, and you’re entitled to have pool parties, Stella,” Nathan said when the construction was finally over and I was hellbent on having my friends over.

A pool construction in progress | Source: Midjourney
“I know that,” I said. “But they seem to hate it. Also, they’re not an old couple, and their kids are teenagers, so they should be used to noise. I hear them having people over, too.”
“Just keep doing your own thing,” Nathan said. “We love our parties here at your house.”

People gathered around a pool | Source: Midjourney
So, when I saw the footage of them having a full-blown 4th of July party in my backyard, I felt my eye twitch.
There they were, the Jacobs, lounging in my pool, splashing around and having the time of their lives on my property. The Jacobs had the audacity to use my pool without permission, knowing full well that I was away for the week.

A smiling couple in a pool | Source: Midjourney
“That’s it!” I muttered, slamming my laptop shut. I grabbed my keys and marched over to their door, anger bubbling inside me like a volcano ready to erupt.
It was their hypocrisy that did it for me. They had always fought with me, time and time again, and yet, they acted as though my home belonged to them in my absence.

A woman walking | Source: Midjourney
“At least they didn’t go inside,” I said to myself.
Mrs. Jacobs answered, looking annoyed as if I was the one inconveniencing her.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I snapped. “Care to explain why you and your family were in my pool while I was gone?”