money over friendship?

I once lent money to a close friend who was in a tough spot, thinking it wouldn’t change anything between us. At first, they were grateful and promised to pay me back soon, but as weeks turned into months, the excuses started piling up. Every conversation felt awkward, like the elephant in the room was too big to ignore. Eventually, they stopped reaching out altogether, and when I finally confronted them, things got heated. We haven’t spoken since, and it’s a harsh reminder that mixing money and friendship can sometimes cost more than it’s worth.