Our water bill soared to $214, and I discovered my neighbor secretly siphoning from our outdoor faucet, prompting unexpected advice from my husband.

In my arms, my love gasped for air.

Then I saw the soil.

A faded path lay beneath the hose.

Not recently made. Not by chance.

The earth was slick from the constant pulling of something across it.

I reached for my phone.

Last month, the weight of $214 shook our world.