For 17 years, my best friend and I had been inseparable, and our daughters, both around the same age, had always been close. One day, she asked me to look after her 15-year-old while she took a week-long trip with her new boyfriend. I was happy to help.
But then her daughter fell seriously ill. I rushed her to the hospital, where doctors told me she needed immediate surgery. For the next three days, I stayed by her side, coordinating her care and making sure everything went smoothly.
I kept my friend informed about the situation and called her frequently. But instead of cutting her trip short, she told me that changing her flight would be too expensive. She even said, “You don’t need to go to the hospital every day. The nurses can handle it.”
When she finally returned, instead of showing gratitude, she angrily accused me of “interfering with her parenting” and “making decisions for her daughter.” Our friendship ended right there, and I haven’t spoken to her since.