Every morning, I would glance over at my neighbor’s garden with a mix of admiration and envy. Her flowers bloomed vibrantly, and her vegetables thrived, while my own garden struggled, with wilting plants and stunted growth. I tried everything—different fertilizers, watering schedules, even consulting gardening books—but nothing seemed to work. My neighbor always offered kind words and advice, but the disparity between our gardens left me baffled. That is, until the day I uncovered the real reason behind her garden’s perfection. Week after week, I tended to my garden with care, only to watch my plants droop under the sun. It didn’t make sense. I followed every instruction, yet my garden remained a shadow of my neighbor’s flourishing paradise. Every time I saw her meticulously manicured garden beds, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of inadequacy. Something was amiss, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. One early morning, determined to figure out what I was doing wrong, I decided to rise with the sun and start my gardening routine earlier than usual. As I stepped outside, I noticed something strange. My neighbor was already in her garden, but she wasn’t tending to it in the usual way. Instead, she was sneaking over to my side of the fence, sprinkling something around my plants. My heart raced as I realized this wasn’t just ordinary fertilizer she was using. I couldn’t stay silent any longer. “What are you doing?” I called out, stepping closer. She jumped, startled by my presence. Her eyes darted nervously as she tried to come up with an explanation, but it was too late. I walked over and saw the container in her hand—something clearly not meant to help plants grow. It was a harsh chemical that explained why my garden was always in decline. In that moment, the truth became clear—she had been sabotaging my garden all along to make hers stand out even more. Confronted with the evidence, she tried to apologize, claiming it was out of jealousy and a need for control. But the damage was done. I couldn’t believe someone I had trusted as a friend could be so deceitful. After reporting the incident to the local authorities, I set about reviving my garden with renewed determination. Without her interference, my plants began to thrive, and I found a sense of peace in knowing that my hard work could finally pay off.