Freedom from Betrayal

I always thought losing a friend would hurt. But losing her? It felt like escaping

a trap I didn’t even know I was in. We were best friends for eight years.

Sleepovers, secrets, birthdays — the whole thing. But the second people

started liking me more? She flipped. At first, it was tiny things.

She’d “joke” that I dressed cheap. Tell people I “copied her style.” Make fun of my grades,

my smile, even my laugh. All those little daggers disguised as best-friend banter.

Then she upgraded to sabotage. She spread a rumor that I cheated on a test.

Told teachers I “talked behind their backs.” Texted people using my phone when I