The day my best friend ran away with my rent money

Last year, I was living in Lekki with my then-best friend, Tola. We were the perfect duo, splitting everything, laughing at inside jokes, planning our future. When our landlord announced a 20% rent increase, we panicked. We pooled our savings together, I contributed ₦850k, she added ₦500k, and we handed it to her to pay the landlord since she had his account details.

Two weeks later, I came home to an eviction notice. The landlord said he hadn't received a dime. I called Tola, no answer. I went to her room, her clothes were gone, her passport, everything. She had blocked me on all platforms.

I was devastated. I had to move back to my parents' house in Festac, sleeping on the couch, editing videos for whatever gigs I could find to survive. For months, I couldn't trust anyone. I questioned my judgment, my ability to read people.

But I learned something valuable. Money matters can change people, and sometimes the ones closest to you will hurt you the most. I still believe in friendship, but now I always get receipts, I always document everything. And I never mix money with friendship again, no matter how close we are.