A few days later, I opened the front door to head out and nearly dropped the baby formula I was holding—there was Emily standing there with a suitcase. She claimed she had a fight with her roommate and had nowhere else to go. I felt torn, but told her we couldn’t take her in, especially with a newborn at home.
She asked to use the phone, made a call, and left—only to return the next morning and sit on our porch, waiting for her ride like it was a bus stop. The situation spiraled, ending with a complaint to HR and a friendship ruined. In the end, I learned the hard way how important it is to set firm boundaries—even with people you once tried to help.