I never imagined money could destroy a friendship, but that’s exactly what seems to be happening. For years, I tried to support my best friend whenever she said she was broke—covering her rent, groceries, and small bills without making a fuss. In the beginning, helping felt right, almost natural. But slowly, the kind gestures turned into a pattern, then an expectation. It became clear that I was giving far more than she ever intended to repay.

What hurt most was her lack of effort to pay anything back. She always insisted she was struggling, and I convinced myself this was simply what good friends do. But the emotional weight grew heavier over time. I realized I was the only one sacrificing while she continued living as if someone would always be there to rescue her. Everything changed the night she asked for $2,000 and casually said that since I was doing better financially, it “shouldn’t be a big deal.” That comment cut deeper than I expected, and for the first time, I told her no.

The next day, she posted on social media about “selfish people who only care about themselves,” clearly referring to me. The humiliation and betrayal hit me all at once. After years of quiet support, she painted me as the villain because I finally set a boundary. I confronted her privately, sent a screenshot of her post, listed everything she owed me, and told her I wanted it all back. I also warned her that if she refused, I’d take further steps to recover the money.

I know friendship is supposed to be rooted in trust, compassion, and mutual respect, but this situation crossed a line. It’s painful to realize how little she valued everything I did for her. Now I’m left questioning myself: did I go too far by demanding repayment and threatening action, or was I finally standing up for myself after years of being taken advantage of?