“— Lena, hey… I feel really awkward even asking, but… do you think you could lend me a couple thousand?”

Even over the phone, Lena could hear the hesitation in Sophie’s voice. It was soaked in embarrassment and something else—guilt, maybe. This wasn’t the first time Sophie had asked to borrow money. And even though Lena always brushed it off with a lighthearted “Of course, don’t worry about it,” she could tell her friend still hated asking.

“— Sure, Sophie, it’s no problem at all.”

“— I’ll be able to pay you back in about a week. My advance is coming through, and I’ll give it right back…”

“— Don’t stress about it, really. Just whenever you can.”

“— Thank you, hon,” Sophie sighed with such exhaustion that Lena felt a pang in her chest.

As she ended the call, Lena couldn’t help but wonder: hadn’t Sophie just received her paycheck a few days ago? Probably Mark—her ex—was behind on child support again. That man never understood what it meant to raise two growing boys, who outgrew clothes and shoes like clockwork.

“— Sophie, sorry if I’m overstepping… but did Mark flake on child support again?”

There was a pause.

Lena could feel the tension.

Then: “— No, he sent the money this time.”

Lena furrowed her brow. That was unusual.

“— Okay, not to pry, but… where did your paycheck and the support go then? I mean… if something’s wrong, just tell me. I’m not judging.”

“— Nothing’s wrong. I had a lot of expenses this month… Everything’s so expensive lately. Most of it went to the boys.”

“— Got it…”

“— So… can you send it?”

“— Of course, I’ll transfer it now.”

After hanging up, Lena sat still for a moment, tapping her fingers on the kitchen table. She didn’t have kids of her own, so she knew she might not fully grasp how much raising them cost—but usually, Sophie managed fine. She only asked for help when Mark didn’t pay or in emergencies—like a few months back when Leo, her eldest, got sick and needed expensive medication. That time, Lena gave Sophie money without hesitation. In fact, she even told her to forget about paying it back.

But this time felt different. Something about it didn’t sit right.

Sophie and Lena had known each other for over fifteen years. Lena had watched her friend marry young, have two kids back to back, and try to hold together a marriage that was cracked from the start. Mark had always been a little lazy, more interested in parties and football than fatherhood.

But Sophie—she had clung to hope. Maybe because she’d never been the kind of woman who turned heads. She had a round, sweet face, frizzy brown hair that never stayed in place, and a shy smile that made her seem younger than she was. Not conventionally beautiful, maybe, but warm. Deeply caring. And Lena had always felt a quiet sadness for her—because if men looked at hearts the way they looked at faces, Sophie would’ve had a line of suitors down the street.

When Mark walked out after five years of marriage, leaving her with two boys and a mountain of bills, Sophie didn’t complain. She just kept going. She was always trying to be both mother and father to her sons, and never once did she make herself a priority.

Which is why Lena’s gut said something wasn’t right this time. But she told herself to wait. Sophie would talk when she was ready.

Then, two days later, the phone rang again.

“— Lena… I hate to ask again…”

“— You need more money?”

“— Just a thousand. I swear I’ll pay you back…”

Sophie always paid her back eventually. That wasn’t the issue. But this pattern—it was becoming something else. Lena’s concern was growing into worry.

“— Sophie. Please be honest with me. What’s going on?”

“— It’s nothing serious…”

“— Sophie, stop. I’m not judging. I’m just scared for you. Talk to me.”

There was a pause. Then a sigh. And finally, Sophie said it.

“— I… I met someone.”

Lena’s heart sank.

“— He’s so gentle, Lena. He calls me ‘Sunshine.’ Can you believe that? No one’s ever called me anything like that. He says he loves kids. Says he wants to help me raise the boys. We’ve only seen each other a few times—when the boys were with their dad—but it felt like heaven.”

Lena smiled faintly but said nothing.

“— I think he’s the one. We text every day. Before him, I didn’t even want to wake up in the morning. My life was all about surviving. Now, when I open my eyes, my heart flutters. Because I know he probably messaged me.”

“— That’s sweet, Sophie… but what does this have to do with the money?”

The silence on the line stretched too long.

“— He’s just… going through a tough time,” Sophie finally confessed. “Looking for work. He asked to borrow a bit—just for food.”

“— Has he ever paid you back?”

“…No. Not yet. But he will.”

Lena closed her eyes. She didn’t want to believe it, but all signs pointed to the same conclusion.

She asked Sophie to show her the messages. She promised not to read anything private—just the parts where he asked for money.

As she read through the chat, Lena’s fears were confirmed. It was textbook emotional manipulation. Small requests at first—just enough to not seem suspicious. Then slightly larger ones. And in between: love bombs, grand promises, romantic declarations.

And when Sophie hesitated? Guilt-tripping followed: “Don’t you love me?”, “We’re supposed to be a team.”

It made Lena furious.

“Sophie, he’s scamming you. I’ve read about this exact tactic.”

“— But I met him in real life!”

“— That doesn’t mean anything. It’s part of the con.”

Eventually, Lena convinced Sophie to demand her money back. Sophie messaged Daniel and told him she needed everything repaid immediately.

He replied with excuses. Then insults. And then—he blocked her.

Sophie cried like her world had collapsed.

“— I wanted so badly to believe. I thought maybe… finally, someone saw me.”

“— I understand,” Lena said gently, holding her.

But unlike her friend, Lena didn’t feel heartbreak—she felt rage.

She messaged Daniel herself. He laughed. Told her Sophie was pathetic. Said she wasn’t his first mark, and wouldn’t be the last.

Lena had enough.

She told her husband everything. He was furious. And with his brother, he went looking for Daniel—luckily, they had a photo and knew where he worked part-time.

Daniel, it turned out, wasn’t as brave when confronted by two large, angry men.

“— You owe her,” Lena’s husband told him. “And you’re paying her back.”

Daniel argued he didn’t have the full amount. So they made it clear: find it, or face worse.

He borrowed from everyone he knew and emptied his rainy-day fund. In the end, he was still short a couple thousand.

“— You’ve got one week,” Lena’s husband said coldly. “If you don’t pay it, we’ll be back. And if we hear you’re pulling this scam on someone else—I swear, you’ll regret it.”

A week later, Sophie received the full amount.

She wept as she counted the cash. She had written it off completely. The fact that Lena’s family had gotten it back for her—it overwhelmed her.

“— Thank you… I mean it. This has been a painful lesson. I’m done with men. I’ll raise my sons and make sure they never grow up to treat women this way.”

“— Don’t close your heart,” Lena smiled. “You’ll find someone worthy. Just promise me one thing…”

“— Anything.”

“— Don’t keep secrets next time. I’m always here.”

Sophie hugged her tightly.

In that moment, she realized something profound—something she had always known deep down:

Sometimes, a true friend is the greatest love story of all.