Does money ruin a friendship?

She couldn’t help but wonder was it her fault? Did she cause her friend to feel that way?

...

It's a Thursday afternoon, and she sits on her living room floor and contemplates and reflects.

Maybe her friend misinterpreted the situation and she doesn’t know, because her friend does not want to communicate it, and that’s fine. So then she can’t take it personal. But she can’t help but wonder, did money ruin this friendship?

…

It wasn’t always this way. Their connection and bond was flow and ease. It would consist of messaging frequently. They had been friends since their youth days, and since then, been in touch, and supported one another's journey’s, from different cities.

She always admired her friend. (Note to protect the privacy of this friend, I will refer to this person as *they*. Feel free to sub in a pronoun that you identify with as you're reading) It was the way they achieved their goals and kept evolving into the person they aspired to be, in small but powerful and consistent ways. Her and her friend shared their journey, through video calls and messages, visits and sometimes letters.

Oh letters, physically, hand written (but typed up) letters, that she kept dutifully and stored away in her case of diaries. She knows which diary to pull out and there the letters will reveal themselves. But she hasn’t looked at them in a while. She knows what they mean, and her friend does too.

….

So their connection, always consistent, as best as possible. They’ve been side by side, in their worse and best times. Sad days and joyful ones and all the ones in between too.

However there was a moment in their friendship, that her friend ended up telling her something that may have changed the trajectory of their friendship. Her friend told her about some feelings. Feelings are sensitive and real, and should be respected. And that’s what she did, and continues to do.

She’s wary to touch on this subject, so she’ll move, she decided.

When she is in her sanctuary as she calls it, her space, she is comfortable to do what she likes, including calling her or texting this friend of hers. Earlier this week, they had agreed to talk over video call today to chill and catch up. Its been long since they've since each other over video call. She was wary.

So today arrives and they agreed to chat on the phone. But as the day progressed, she felt uneasy. Something didn’t feel quite right. Yesterday, she had asked her friend to lend her some money, which she had said she will return it on her next and near payday. In 2 days from today. She didn’t think a big deal out of it. Her friend also stated a few days prior while they were joking on the phone, if she needed help she could ask. More specifically financial help. And well, she took it upon herself to ask. And today, her friends day is off, or not doing their "best"

...

She couldn’t help but wonder, what if she had not asked her friend to lend her money? Would that have made a difference? Would that have made her friends mood better?

What she found to be interesting was, this isn’t the first that she had asked her friend to borrow money. The first time she did, her friend had no expectations of being paid back. However, as her finances were getting better and better, she was able to pay her friend back in 3 months, even though they had not asked or expected to be paid back.

9 months later, she asks to borrow a significantly ‘less’ amount of money and immediately her friend throws a question as to when she would pay the money back?

....

Would it be fair to say, her friend isn’t wrong in acting that way? Her friend had just got some renovations done, and has a decent mortgage to pay with their partner, but also is in really good financial standing and just attracted some extra finances in their account? Shouldn’t their life be good? Does money then solve your problems? Does money put you above people? It was interesting to observe that reaction.

Maybe her friend is going through other things in their live at the moment and that is having an effect on their mood. It could be very possible. But she couldn't help but wonder.

Does money mend friendships or break them?

She was shocked to be asked when the money was going to be returned. She thought to her self, maybe I had a bit more money to go around, I would help those who needed it. But then again, it's easier said than done, and nothing should be taken personal, unless the person says "Its your fault", which in this case it hasn't.

So life continues, but she will continue to be curious, and maybe her friend will explain as to why their feeling that way.