Chapter 1
YOUR NEIGHBOR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND
By Lovely Jimoh
Copyright © 2024 Lovely Jimoh
All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means without written permission from the author.
The Price of Kindness
Faith moved into her new apartment for one reason: peace. She was the kind of person who kept to
herself—private, hardworking, and compassionate. For two months, it was perfect. Then she met
Blessing.
The Slow Fade of Boundaries
It started with a simple knock. Blessing, the neighbor from upstairs, asked to borrow a mop, bucket,
and detergent. “I’ll bring them right back,” she promised. Faith, always willing to help, handed them
over. She didn’t see those items again for four months. Faith said nothing; she valued her peace more
than a plastic bucket.
But Blessing’s “needs” grew. She was always lonely, always friendless. Faith felt for her. She began
sharing her meals, giving her money, and even treating her to expensive dinners and hotel outings
just to lift her spirits. Faith, a skilled hairstylist, even did Blessing’s hair for free as a gesture of
support
The One Mistake
Hoping to reciprocate, Blessing—a lash technician—asked Faith to patronize her. Despite her
sensitive skin and never having had lashes before, Faith agreed and paid in full. Within a week, the
lashes were falling out in clumps. Faith swallowed the disappointment and kept quiet to avoid
drama.
The real trouble started with an iPad. Blessing knew Faith had a new 10th-generation iPad and
asked to borrow it for “TikTok content.” Faith hesitated—electronics were personal. She offered to
let Blessing use it in her apartment, but Blessing insisted on taking it upstairs. Against her better
judgment, Faith let it go.
Three hours later, Blessing brought it back with a cold shrug. “I didn’t even use it.”
The Transformation of an Enemy
From that moment, the friendship died. Blessing stopped answering greetings. She scowled
whenever they passed. Soon, the digital blocks followed on WhatsApp and Snapchat. Confused, Faith
finally blocked her back.
Seeking advice, Faith shared her experience on TikTok without using names. She didn’t realize that
seven of Blessing’s friends were stalking her account. The digital war began instantly with fake
accounts and malicious comments calling Faith “greedy” and “evil.”
The Final Threat
It didn’t stop online. Blessing’s friends began harassing Faith at her own home, shouting insults
through her window. It escalated to a physical threat: Faith found the fuel line to her car’s tank had
been cut clean through.Faith stayed calm. She managed the crisis with dignity, deciding not to stoop to their level. She had
learned an expensive, painful lesson. Proximity is not loyalty.
Indeed, your neighbor is not always your friend.
Lessons from Faith’s Story
• Boundaries are not mean: Being a private person is a choice, and you don’t have to break
that to be “nice.”
• Privacy is personal: Electronics like your iPad or phone contain your life. If you feel
uncomfortable lending them out, listen to your gut.
• Watch for patterns: A neighbor who takes four months to return a mop will likely respect
your bigger boundaries even less.
• Distance is safety: When someone shows you they are an enemy by blocking or scowling,
believe them. Don’t try to “fix” it; just stay away.
