Growing up, I had a best friend, and we were inseparable. We shared everything: secrets, clothes, and dreams. Or so I thought. But sometimes, even the closest friendships can hide a seed of jealousy.
Things fell apart when I got admission into the university we had both dreamed of attending, but she didn’t. She couldn’t handle it. She believed that since we had always shared everything, the admission should have come to both of us.
I tried to console her, assuring her that her time would come. She pretended to accept it, but deep down, she hadn’t.
One fateful evening, we went out together. It got late, and I suggested we go home, but she insisted we stay a bit longer.
When we finally left, we took a lonely path. Suddenly, she stopped, turned to me, and said, “You shouldn’t have been admitted before me.” Before I could respond, she stabbed me and ran away. Some kind strangers found me and took me to the hospital. For a long time, she disappeared.
Then one day, she showed up at my house, crying and begging for forgiveness. She said she had finally been admitted to a university and regretted everything. She confessed that jealousy had clouded her mind.
I told my parents not to send her to prison because of the bond we once shared. But deep down, I’m torn. What should I do for my own peace of mind? Nkem
Dear Nkem,
What you went through is something no one should ever have to experience, especially at the hands of someone you once called a friend. The wound she gave you was not just physical; it was emotional, and a betrayal that cut deep into your trust and heart.
Yet, even in that pain, you chose mercy over revenge. That alone shows that your heart is far stronger than hers ever was.
For your own peace of mind, start by truly forgiving her, but do it for yourself, not for her.
Forgiveness does not mean you must welcome her back into your life. It simply means you are choosing to let go of the bitterness that could otherwise poison your spirit. Carrying hatred or resentment will only keep the wound open, but forgiving will allow it to heal.
However, healing doesn’t mean forgetting. You must accept that things can never go back to how they were.
Trust, once broken in such a painful way, can’t be rebuilt overnight, perhaps not at all. You can wish her well from afar, but guard your peace closely.
Some people are lessons, not lifelong companions. Let this experience make you wiser, not fearful.
The betrayal you suffered has taught you the kind of strength, awareness, and emotional maturity that many people only gain later in life. Don’t let it turn your heart cold; let it teach you to love carefully, to trust thoughtfully, and to protect your peace fiercely.
True healing begins when you stop asking “why she did it” and start focusing on “what I’ve learnt from it.” You have survived something that could have destroyed you; that means your life still has a powerful purpose ahead.
Let this wound become a mark of wisdom, not weakness, and a reminder that even in betrayal, you chose to rise with grace.
