Sometimes the individuals we trust the most can surprise us in ways we never expected. One reader wrote to tell us about her personal experience when she gave her heart and house to her best friend. What began as a sweet and generous gesture turned into a traumatic experience she did not expect. This is her narrative about friendship, betrayal, and what she learnt.

Maya’s letter:

Dear Admin,

My dearest friend had nowhere to go following her divorce, so I took her in. My hubby said nothing. All I requested was that she watch our three-year-old boy from 9 to 5. She grinned and replied, “Sure, I’ll be your nanny!”

That day, I arrived home early. I opened the door. To my surprise, she was painting her nails while music blared and sung as if she didn’t care about anything. I looked around—my baby was not in the house.

She turned to me and said, “You can now relax. I found someone who can take better care of your son than I ever could.” It turned out she had enrolled my child in a daycare without consulting us—and even told them to bill us directly.

I was infuriated. I informed her that she had no authority to make such a choice without our consent. She answered angrily, stating I should be ashamed of expecting childcare in exchange for letting her remain. According to her, true friends help one another without keeping score.

When my husband found out, he was furious. He chastised me for being reckless by allowing her to stay in our home in the first place. We had a big dispute, and now we’re not even talking.

But her comments continue to stay in my head. Was it wrong to ask her to babysit in exchange for a place to stay? What are your thoughts?