When Ivy furnishes her sister $25,000 in a moment of difficulties, she never predicts silence to be the only thing she gets in return. But three years later, disloyalty has happened… and so has Ivy’s strength. Now karma’s come to gather, and Ivy must decide: can forgiveness grow where trust once shrivelled?
It all began three years ago. I’d just sold my small flower shop, a cozy little place I’d built from scratch after college, and was finally snoring easy for the first time in years.
No debt, no stress, just the satisfying hum of a savings account and a chance to solve, what was next.
That was when Lisa called.
She and her husband Rick were in trouble. I didn’t ask for the full breakdown, just enough to understand they were behind on mortgage payments.
“We just need something to buy us time,” Lisa said
“A year, tops, and we’ll pay it back in full. I promise!”
“We’ll sign something if you want, Ivy. I mean, we’re family. But I get it… Just know, you’d be saving us. Like seriously saving us.”
And I believed them.
That was the first error.
The next morning, I transfered $25,000 into their account. It was nearly everything I had left from selling my shop. I even had them sign a written agreement.
I thought that would be enough.
The first six months passed quietly.
But then a year went by. And then another.
When I began asking, about repayment, I got unclear responses.
“It’s been a tough quarter,” Rick would say.
“The kids’ tuition hit us hard,” Lisa added. “We haven’t forgotten.”
Lisa was posting weekend getaways, new handbags, and bottomless brunches at places.
Rick got a new SUV. I saw it parked proudly on the driveway, shiny and arrogant.
I finally faced them the following Thanksgiving.
I sat there, quietly watching the display, wondering how much of it had been funded by excuses.Then I leaned forward, my hands folded in my lap to keep from shaking.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “I’d really like to talk about the loan. It’s been three years.”
“This again?” Lisa said.
“Come on, Ivy. We can’t be having the same conversation over and over again.”
“You’re seriously bringing this up over turkey?” Rick said.
“Yes,” I replied. “Because I’ve waited long enough.”
“You said helping us wouldn’t destr0y you,” she said.
“You said it was fine! Ivy… why promise the world and then behave like this?”
“Well, technically, there’s no legal contract,” Rick said. “That paper you had us sign? It wouldn’t work in court.”
“I’m not talking about court,” I said.
“I’m talking about integrity. I’m talking about the fact that I trusted you.”
“You’re acting like we robbed you, Ivy!” my sister said.
I left their home before dessert.
It was disloyalty. It was the kind of betrayal that you don’t know coming until it’s already affected you.
A week later, I took the agreement to a lawyer. He reviewed it, then swayed his head gently.
“It’s too informal,” he said. “I’m sorry, Ivy.”
They didn’t argue at all.
Their silence said everything.
Months passed and I understood what I’d lost… not the money, but the illusion that my sister and I had something real.
And then, one afternoon, I ran into Julia, a mutual friend I hadn’t seen in ages.
Then, mid-conversation, her expression disturbed.
“I heard what occured to Lisa and Rick!” she said. “Is your sister okay?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Julia. We haven’t talked,” I said slowly.
“Oh…” Julia hesitated.
“It’s been rough, apparently. An IRS audit occured. And they’ve been hiding income from some side hustle Rick had going. They got h:it with a bunch of fines, big ones. Lisa lost her part-time job when it all went public.”.
“They tried to sell the house to cover some of it but it was already under risk of repossession. It went into foreclosure last month.”
The truth was finally touching base with them.
This was karma. And it had shown up loud.
A few weeks later, my sister called me. Her name appeared on my screen like a ghost. I cried at it, my thumb hovering over the screen, discussing whether I should even answer.
Curiosity won, of course.
“Ivy… I didn’t know who else to call. They’re taking everything. I’m trying to seek a job, but it’s bad… Really bad. Can you loan me something? Just to get through the next few weeks?”
“Lisa,” I said softly. “You still owe me $25,000.”
“But I don’t have anything now, Ivy,” she said.
“I know,” I said.
“And that’s how I felt for the last three years. I’ve had to stretch every single payment of what I’ve gotten from the business.”
After selling the shop, I relocated to design wedding florals and style inti:mate events.
“I don’t know what to do, Ivy…” she said.
“You’ll figure it out, babe,” I said. “Like I had to. Keep trying to find a job. I know it’s difficult, but you’ll get there, Lisa.”
It’s been a few months now. And since then, I’ve renovated, not just my finances but myself.
I began small, providing floral design for local weddings and event styling for community spaces. Now, my savings are stable. My peace? Even better.
One Saturday, after a workshop at the community center, I gathered the ladies around the table for our usual wind-down: coffee, cookies, and my grandmother’s almond cake.
We laughed and shared stories like old friends, even if most of us had only just met
That’s when I saw her.
Lisa, standing in the doorway.
“I heard that you host these,” she said quietly.
“And I… I’m sorry, Ivy. For everything. Truly. I know I can’t undo what occured. But I’m trying to start over. I need to learn new skills. Maybe… I could join the next one?”
The room went still. I looked her over… she was thinner than I remembered.
“Come by next week,” I said. “The materials list is online.”
I offered to take her to the local diner. She hesitated, then shouted.
I didn’t ask where Rick was. I just wanted to be present.
“You’re doing better,” she said. “You look… strong.”
“I am,” I replied. “But I didn’t get here by accident.”
“I want to try, Ivy. Show me…”
“Then try,” I said. “Just know… I’ll encourage your growth, not your excuses. That’s the difference now.”
