I met my “friend” during a training course I attended in hopes of landing a job at a highly prestigious firm in London. To be honest, I struggled with some of the material, and she was the one who explained things with patience when I was at a loss. Time passed, we both finished the course, and managed to keep in touch. She still relied on her parents for money, while I was already married and had to manage without any such support.
I was desperately searching for a job when a mate happily recommended me for a post. The process dragged on for ages. We saw each other here and there, but she often cancelled last minute, always with its gotten a bit late as her excuse. I was wrapped up in my own worries, but we continued to message back and forth. Then finally came the time to submit applications and take the entry assessments. By then, I was out of work and scrimping every penny for some medical treatments I needed. In her case, anything she needed, her parents paid for without a second thought.
She passed the exams on her first try. I didnt. I sat the tests two more times and still wasn’t accepted. I asked if shed help me revise together, but she always had something else going on. Then she vanished completely through December and January. I kept searching for jobsit was honestly a bleak time for me. I didnt get anything until halfway through February, and the months before that were just rough. Once I finally started work, I had shifts both during the week and weekends.
At the end of February, she reached out saying she wanted to meet up in March. I wavered. Part of me didnt want to see anyone from that world anymorethe disappointment at not being hired cut so deepbut still, I agreed because she had become special to me. We were meant to meet on a Saturday, which meant I had to ask for time off work. I texted her Friday night, but she never replied. Nor did she on Saturday. Our meeting never happened. I got in hot water with my manager over the shift swap, while my “friend” only popped up on Monday, sending a WhatsApp message saying thered been a “family emergency”.
I was furious. I ignored her for three whole months. After that, I had surgery and, by chance, she rang me. I told her Id just had an operation and was in a vulnerable place, but I still took the call. She told me,
If youre tired, get some rest, and Ill call later to check in.
She never called back.
Another two months passed, then she messaged saying she wanted to catch up, but only during the week. By then, I was studying in the afternoons and couldnt skip classesthey cost me dearly, both in pounds and effortfor anyone. Despite initial hesitation, I nearly said yes, but in the end, I turned her down before we made any plans.
After that, she started ringing occasionally to ask how I was, and I got the distinct feeling she was mocking me. Shed press about my family, always slyly hinting, So, have your parents split up yet? Truthfully, it was never my fault that hers had. I began picking up on these digs and gradually started closing myself offmy replies got shorter, sometimes dishonest simply to fend her off.
Bit by bit, I removed her from my social media, and by March the following year, I blocked her everywhere. She messaged, but I paid her no mind. The day after my birthday, she called to confront me. She told me shed always tried to be there for me, and couldnt understand why Id cut her out. I told her I never had time for myself, yet somehow managed to post photos with other people. I simply replied,
Be with someone else.
She finished by saying she only ever wanted to help, and wouldnt bother me again. Honestly, that gutted me. I suddenly realised how wary I’d becomeI couldnt trust anyone easily anymore. She wanted me to do well, just not better than her. She never truly cared, even though Id been thoughtful and generous to her.
Sometimes I wonder if she was drawn to me romanticallyshed mock my partner, push me to invite him out, or comment wryly if I posted photos with other women. Id always been genuine and open with hermaybe that was my mistake. It burns to admit she never really cared; she just wanted to keep me around. I truly thought what we had was real friendship, that we had something in common, but it wasnt so. And now its not easy for me to trust at all. I wish I had more friends, but it just feels so difficult.
