Jules enjoyed the calm of her quiet neighborhood and the simple pleasure of unboxing her many online orders. But when packages began disappearing from her porch, she grew suspicious especially of Tessa, the stylish new neighbor who never seemed to get any deliveries herself. One night, Jules stayed up and caught Tessa walking across the street to take a package.
Instead of confronting her immediately, Jules set a glitter bomb trap, but it didn’t work. The next day, Jules confronted Tessa and called the police. When officers searched Tessa’s house, they found a basement filled with Jules’s missing packages. Tessa tearfully revealed she’d been sleepwalking, a condition she thought was behind her, but which had resurfaced due to the stress of moving.
She hadn’t opened or stolen anything intentionally; her subconscious was acting without her awareness. Though Jules had been angry at first, her feelings softened into empathy. Tessa apologized sincerely, and the two eventually formed a gentle friendship sharing popcorn, true crime documentaries, and quiet moments together.
The packages stopped disappearing, but Jules realized that even if they didn’t, she wouldn’t be mad. Sometimes, healing comes not from punishment, but from understanding and forgiveness.