Silence crackled through the phone, then my mother snapped, “Rachel, stop being dramatic. We are pulling in right now.” Three cars rolled to the curb behind the new owner’s SUV. Brian climbed out first, dragging a suitcase, while Megan waved at my empty windows like she already owned them. Mom stepped from the lead car in her good coat and marched up my porch steps, holding something small in her fist.

I stayed in my car with Daniel beside me, my heart pounding but my hands steady. Mom lifted the spare key she had secretly copied years ago and slid it into the lock. Brian laughed and pushed the door open. “See? She’s just being dramatic,” he called over his shoulder. Then the new owner climbed out of her SUV, pulled out her phone, and said in a quiet, terrifying voice, “Ma’am, step away from my door.”