Late at night, Jason woke up to his phone ringing, only to hear his daughter, Lily, crying on the other end. He quickly learned that her landlord was pressuring her to leave her apartment. Fueled by determination, Jason decided to take action against the landlord.
The unexpected call startled him, and he listened intently as Lily explained her situation. Her landlord had overheard her celebrating a promotion with a friend and had since started discussing rent increases and upgrades. When she didn’t show any concern about the rent hike, he retaliated by secretly dumping outdated chemical containers in her backyard and accusing her of breaching the lease for having hazardous materials.
Jason’s anger grew. He knew how much effort Lily had put into turning that neglected yard into a beautiful garden. As a child, she had always preferred playing outside, tending to plants and exploring nature. Despite his wife’s desire for their daughter to be more “ladylike”, Jason encouraged Lily to be herself.
Determined to protect her hard work, Jason assured Lily that they would handle the situation together. The next evening, he arrived at her apartment with a few friends and flashlights, ready to confront the landlord.
With the help of his friends, they carefully removed the garden Lily had lovingly tended. As they worked, Jason made sure to protect her plants while dismantling the rest of the garden. Inside, they rearranged the furniture to highlight the apartment’s flaws, making it clear to any potential renters how much work it needed.
They switched out the lightbulbs for harsh white ones, creating a stark atmosphere. Lily reflected on her time in the apartment, recalling how she had transformed the barren yard into a vibrant garden. Though she felt frustrated and defeated by her landlord’s actions, Jason reminded her that this was just a setback, and her future was bright.
The next morning, Lily asked Jason to be there when she returned the keys to the landlord, Jack. When Jack arrived, furious about the missing plants and flowers, he confronted Lily, who feigned innocence.
Jason stepped in, pointing out the apartment’s many issues, such as wall cracks and mold. He produced photos showing the apartment as it was when Lily moved in, proving that the landlord had no grounds for complaint.
As potential renters came to view the now unkempt space, they quickly lost interest. A few months later, Lily found a new home with a landlord who appreciated her gardening skills rather than exploiting them for profit.
Sitting on her new porch, looking out at her next gardening project, Lily expressed her gratitude. Jason smiled, proud of his daughter for standing up for herself. He reminded her that she had done the hard part, and now she was ready for a fresh start.