After Meredith threatened me over our harmless solar lights, I gave in—for peace, for Lily. But the very next morning, karma knocked at my door.

Meredith stood there, disheveled and desperate. Raccoons had invaded her expensive garden overnight, tearing up her prized roses and leaving chaos in their wake. Without the soft glow of our solar lights to deter them, her once-perfect yard became a midnight buffet.

She begged me to reinstall the lights and even asked for help cleaning her garden. But I’d had enough. Calmly, I said, “You made it clear they were a nuisance. This isn’t my responsibility.”

I shut the door and didn’t look back.

Weeks passed. Meredith’s garden remained a mess while Lily and I added even more solar lights—now twinkling like tiny stars, just as I’d promised her. Our garden was once again our peaceful haven, and every flicker felt like a tiny, glowing victory.

Lesson: Sometimes, the things people try to control or destroy out of pride end up being the very things they need. Stand your ground kindly, and let karma handle the rest. It always does—often with a touch of poetic justice.