Sometimes the individuals we trust the most can surprise us in ways we never expected. One reader wrote to tell us about her personal experience when she gave her heart and house to her best friend.

What began as a sweet and generous gesture turned into a traumatic experience she did not expect. This is her narrative about friendship, betrayal, and what she learnt.

Maya’s letter:

Dear Admin,

My dearest friend had nowhere to go following her divorce, so I took her in. My hubby said nothing. All I requested was that she watch our three-year-old boy from 9 to 5. She grinned and replied, “Sure, I’ll be your nanny!”