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My friend lied and changed my life

170 replies

Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 15:00

This is long, sorry! NC as it's all a bit personal and embarrassing and could potentially be outing if anyone recognises themselves Blush

Back in the early 90s' I was in my early 20's and was madly in love with my boyfriend 'Gary'. He wasn't perfect at first, he went to ibiza with 'the lads' a few weeks after we met and admitted to some infidelity. I wasn't perfect either and had some drunken snogs in those early weeks.

Anyway. It was an amazing time as our relationship deepened that I remember fondly. We had so much fun together. We were both into trailing around museums and art galleries and had a love of history. It was a very lustful relationship, we couldn't keep our hands off each other. I'd never had feelings like that before and was absolutely head over heels.

I had a good friend. 'Hayley'. A while after I met Gary she went through a bad break up after her bf, who she was living with, cheated on her. We found her a new place to live and she started to feel better and had a couple of boyfriends on the rebound. Gary, Hayley and I often spent time together and there were lots of times when we set her up with blind dates or we went out as a foursome with one of her boyfriends.

One weekend, almost a year in to my relationship with Gary, Hayley and I planned a Saturday night in at my place and she was to stay over as usual. We always slept in the same bed when she stayed over. During the evening Gary turned up. I can't remember why. I think he had been let down by a friend. Anyway, I made it clear it was a girls night in but he stayed and joined in with our evening. Hayley and I went to bed in my bed as planned and Gary took the sofa. Sometime during the night Gary slipped into bed beside me, so I was in the middle. No funny business, we just slept. In the morning we all woke and were chatting. It didn't seem odd that we were in the same bed, we had all had odd living arrangements and it wasn't uncommon to wake up in odd situations. I went to the kitchen and could hear them chatting. Everything was fine.

A week or so later Hayley dropped the bombshell that Gary had tried it on with her while they were in the bed together after I had got up. I was devastated. I confronted him and he denied it but maybe because of the ibiza incident and because I trusted Hayley implicitly, I broke up with him. He continued to try and explain that he had done nothing wrong. I still have the big bundle of pleading letters that he sent somewhere!

It broke my heart and it was a dark time but with Hayley's support I eventually moved on. The following year I met dh and we are still together happily.

Gary and I connected via FB about 10 years ago. We're both happily married with dc and now live in different countries. Looking at his photos I didn't really feel anything. It was just nice to be in touch. We sent a couple of messages back and forth, we didn't mention our relationship or break up, it was just a brief catch up and 'nice to be in touch' type thing. We don't really communicate at all now. I will occasionally 'like' his photos of his family and vice versa.

Hayley moved abroad not long after I married dh. We kept in touch via letters and the odd phone call. She returned for a mutual friend's wedding and a couple of other times so we saw each other 3/4 times over about 20 years. Then the communication sort of fizzled out.

Very recently she sent me a friend request on FB. It was so lovely to hear from her and we sent long messages to each other over the course of a couple of days and discussed meeting up once lockdown is over as we now live in the same country. Then I mentioned Gary. I said I'd messaged him once or twice a long time ago and gave her a brief update on what he was doing. She then messaged and told me that she lied about Gary. She thought he would end up cheating on me and didn't want to see me hurt so she made it up so I would break up with him... along with a laughing emoji.

I feel like I've been punched in the stomach. It was such a long time ago but I still remember my heart breaking as Hayley told me Gary had tried it on with her in my bed, and the subsequent months of bleakness as I slowly got over him. She didn't want to see me hurt but she did the worst thing that could hurt me?

I don't know what to say to her. My gut feeling is to delete and block and forget she ever existed but I also want to let rip about the hurt she caused.

I don't know what to do about Gary. Do I mention that Hayley told me she was lying? Should I apologise for not believing him or just let it go?

And of course I've now got the 'What ifs' going through my mind. I don't know if Gary and I were destined to be together forever, but we certainly weren't anywhere near the point of breaking up when we did. It's a bit of a head fuck to be honest! It was 30 years ago but it's brought it all the heartache back! Lockdown and having fuck all to take.my kind off it isn't helping either Confused.

OP posts:
CityCommuter · 30/01/2021 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 19:10

Indeed you don’t forget a big breakup.problem with mn scripted dialogue it always leans toward hyperbole and sass,and is fundamentally jarring. No one talks in real life the way it’s suggested on mn

AmberItsACertainty · 30/01/2021 19:13

Alcoholics never seem to admit they're alcoholics, so I see her telling you she's drinking a lot as akin to an admission. I believe all alcoholics to be abusive people. She could have told you also to get sympathy.

I agree with WhataMissMap don't get involved with Hayley further, she's dangling photos over you to reel you in. Possibly she's looking to stir up shit again because you mentioned Gary, she might think you still have feelings for him. I disagree with those saying she's confessed out of guilt. I think it sounds like she was passing on a funny anecdote about the subject you were discussing ie Gary. She thinks her behaviour was nothing, a funny story, that's horrible. No point ripping into her, she's not going to suddenly see the light and apologize. Delete and block, it doesn't matter what she thinks.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 30/01/2021 19:33

I would screenshot her message and send it to him with a heartfelt apology. Obvs say you know it was years ago but l would def do that. As for her l think l would give her a wide berth.

nuitdesetoiles · 30/01/2021 19:37

Not too trivialise this but I agree you writing style is lovely.. Once you've processed it all you could write for publication and publish under a pseudonym...

1FootInTheRave · 30/01/2021 19:38

I would screenshot and post to her wall.

Let everyone know what a lying, manipulative cunt she is.

ClangingChimesofDoom · 30/01/2021 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Honeyroar · 30/01/2021 20:01

All these people saying you don’t need to tell Gary because he already knows are kinda missing the point of telling him. I personally would tell him simply he was treated a little badly because of it and was clearly hurt by it all. You’re just saying sorry I didn’t believe you all those years ago, that’s all. If you were to carry on and say “if I’d have known that we might still be together now” you’d be crossing a line, but if you just went on to chat about your families etc then it’s perfectly normal. I’d also be mentioning it to my husband. He wouldn’t care.

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 20:07

There’s no point missed. It was 30 year ago op doesn’t need to atone
Why stoke up a drama from back in the day. Gary knows he didn’t make moves on her mate
It’s a bit unnecessary for op to pipe up seek forgiveness for her mate lying
Too Much potential for dramallama

TillyTopper · 30/01/2021 20:11

@randomer is absolutely right. Block both Gary and Hayley and move on. Hayley seems very toxic, it's a shocking thing to do to anyone and especially how she told you afterwards. I can totally imagine the shock. For that reason you should block and move on. Personally I also think you should block Gary - you are hankering after what you had and see it as "unfinished" and full of "what might have been". It's dangerous for your current relationship.

trevorandsimon · 30/01/2021 20:16

@Wendyhause

Place marking. I need to read this fully later.
You can just bookmark. 🙄
ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 30/01/2021 20:17

I would be upset too, even though it was years ago and you've moved on, and I would be suspicious of her reasons for telling you now, especially given she has form for fucking things up for you.

I would:

  • not reply for now
  • wait until she sends the photos
  • reply very calmly and say thanks for the photos, but you're shocked and hurt that she would have done that and you don't think you want to stay in touch anymore after all, now that you know what she did
  • then delete and block.

As far as he's concerned, I think I would message him quite seriously (not the larky example you gave above) and say you've only recently discovered that she lied, that you've both moved on and of course it's all water under the bridge now, but that you feel badly about not believing him at the time and would like to apologise.

I wouldn't bother DH with it but not keep it a deathly secret either, especially if DD might get something out of the anecdote at some point. It's an object lesson in how we often place trust in the wrong people and how bloody weird people we think are friends can sometimes be.

Cam2020 · 30/01/2021 20:44

What a horrible person she is!, we, Al ldo stupid things when we're young, but normal people gore up and cringe at their past behaviour, not send laughing emojis about it!

I would let it go though, it's water under the bridge. Block her and try not to think about it again.

Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 20:44

Thank you everyone. I was worried about sharing this as it is obviously deeply personal. I was worried I'd get the piss ripped out of me due to the length of time ago this all happened, and maybe I am being a tiny bit dramatic, but you've been kind about that. Time passes and you forget names and places but you never really forget how people made you feel at certain points in your life and that can be a blessing and a curse. Breaking up with Gary hurt deeply but at the time I assumed he was a letch, coming on to my friend the moment my back was turned, so in my mind I was better off without him however much it hurt. It is hard to think that we could have had more time together, even if it wasn't forever. We were young and still had a lot more fun to have.

I have lost a friend in Hayley and I'm gutted about that. Even though we only recently reconnected I was thrilled to have her in my life again. We had great times together and I was looking forward to more. As you get older good friends become harder to find and even harder to keep.

I needed help with how to respond to Hayley and with your help I have calmed down and realised that wading in with anger will only hurt me more. I'm sitting tight for now until I come up with something I'm happy with, or maybe I'll just let sleeping dogs lie.

It's been good to reminisce. I really did have a lot of fun back them, despite the heartbreak. But ultimately I love dh and our life together and I wouldn't want it any different. No more 'What ifs'.

OP posts:
cyclingmad · 30/01/2021 20:45

I would cut contact, how do you know she still isn't lying to fuck up your life again.

Don't even say anything to Gary.
Its too many years and you and Gary have clearly moved on so leave it there.

EstuaryBird · 30/01/2021 20:56

I had a similar situation. A ‘friend’ convinced me that my boyfriend, who I loved massively, was sleeping with a friend of hers from college.
I was 17 and only saw him once a week as he lived 20 miles away...but it was the early 70s and we spent weekends at Festivals and parties when we could.

For some reason I never asked him...maybe I was scared he’d tell me it was true...just wrote him a break up letter and when he wrote back I didn’t even read it. Totally irrational 🤷🏻‍♀️. My heart was in bits.

20 years later she told me it was a lie because her brother wanted to ask me out. He did but I said No.

I still love that boyfriend because there was never any closure. I despise her, she changed the course of my life.

OP, I greatly empathise with you...it’s an awful thing to do.

AliceMcK · 30/01/2021 21:06

@WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa

Screenshot, delete and block her.

As for him, I don't think you will ever feel any closure over it if you don't discuss it with him and maybe offer an apology.

This.

A real friend would never do that. And he deserves an apology for being called a liar and trying it on with your best friend. For all you know this could have created trust issues for him.

sweetgingercat · 30/01/2021 21:13

Nice to read your last thread. If I was you I would block Hayley as she's no friend. It's easy to do if you've only just got back in touch again. Screenshot though, you never know when you might need it!

I would never contact Gary about this unless we were both single again. It would be doing the same as she has done with you, messing with his life. I'd be afraid of what it might do to him, his relationship and his children.

Good luck....

Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 21:20

EstuaryBird

I still love that boyfriend because there was never any closure. I despise her, she changed the course of my life

I'm so sorry it happened to you too. It's a real sucker punch when you find out you've been manipulated by someone you trusted. It makes a mockery of the whole friendship Sad

OP posts:
HarrysWife · 30/01/2021 21:20

I would apologise to Gary but just be brutally honest.

"I Never intended to bring up our past relationship but I feel I owe you an apology. Hayley got back in touch last week and, for some unknown reason, decided to confess she lied about you and her. I find this unforgiveable and not a "friend" thing to do so have cut contact with her. I know this doesnt mean much but I wanted to clear the air and just say Im sorry I didnt believe you. Luckily everything has obviously worked out best for both of us but I wouldnt be able to settle without apologising. Now thats out of the way, how are you? Your grandbaby is gorgeous, how are they doing?"

RootyT00t · 30/01/2021 21:21

Bloody Gary.

Anyone remember that classics thread about Gary for 10 years that wasn't Gary?

glasshalfsomething · 30/01/2021 21:26

@Honeyroar

Did she not even apologise?? I would message her and say how disgusted you are to read that. Tell her you know you were all young but you are gutted that a friend would lie and put you through all that heartbreak.

And yes I’d message Gary and tell him Hayley just told you she’d lied all those years ago. Tell him you know it’s all water under the bridge now, and you don’t want to drag it all up, but you wanted to say sorry for not believing him at the time.

This. Do this.
HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 21:27

Gary Was he the yoni guy who wanted to umm massage the laydees

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 21:28

Gary is not owed any explanation or displays of contrition by op
Raking all this up and fraught apologies it’s all unnecessary

RootyT00t · 30/01/2021 21:28

@HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee

Gary Was he the yoni guy who wanted to umm massage the laydees
No the one she called Gary for years and years. Threw a going party and he fessed up
Swipe left for the next trending thread