When I moved into my peaceful Maple Street home, I built a backyard fence after a friendly agreement with neighbors Jim and Susan, skipping formal surveying. All was well until they moved and Kayla, a flashy realtor from the city, moved in. Six months later, she hired a surveyor and claimed my fence was nine inches over her property line. Without written proof of the old agreement, I had no choice but to tear the fence down.

Not long after, Kayla returned asking me to rebuild the fence—her dog, Duke, kept escaping. I declined, wary of legal drama. Her makeshift bamboo barrier failed repeatedly, and Duke’s antics began affecting her life, including a garage sale incident where he caused chaos and her purse was stolen. The neighbors chuckled; Kayla didn’t.

Despite her pleading and even offering to pay, I stood my ground. We explored alternatives, but I refused to reinstall the fence. Months later, her situation worsened while mine grew more frustrating. Tired of the tension, I sold my house to a couple unbothered by Kayla’s issues and took my fence panels with me.

In my new home, I found peace—and even love. Looking back, Kayla’s arrival pushed me to a better life. I still laugh when I tell the story: sometimes, karma needs a fence and a push to work its magic.