Neighbors can be unpredictable, and I never thought mine, Emery, would go from friend to foe overnight.

When my husband, Silas, left six years ago, I was left juggling two kids and a remote call center job to make ends meet. Life wasn’t easy, but I managed. Then came Emery, my new neighbor, pleading for help cleaning her trashed house after a wild party. She promised $250 for my efforts, and desperate for extra cash, I agreed.

Two grueling days later, I finished. But when I asked for payment, Emery denied making the deal, brushing me off like I was nothing. Furious, I decided not to let it slide.

Using the spare key she’d left behind, I dumped garbage all over the pristine house I had just cleaned. It felt like poetic justice. That evening, Emery banged on my door, furious. Calmly, I reminded her there was no agreement—just as she’d claimed—and dared her to prove otherwise.

She stormed off, speechless, and I felt a strange mix of satisfaction and guilt. Sometimes, standing up for yourself means getting your hands dirty. Would you have handled it differently?