The Night I Learned the Value of Boundaries and Friendship

My friend invited me to a fancy steakhouse.

Beforehand, I told her I couldn’t afford to spend $200 on dinner, so I’d just order something light.

At the restaurant, she went all out — a huge steak and three sides.

Me? Just a simple salad.

When the waiter brought the check, she casually said, “We’ll just split it.” I nodded politely… but what she didn’t know was that I had already made my move.

Earlier that day, I called the restaurant and explained my situation. I asked if I could pay for my meal — just the salad — in advance. They agreed and set up a separate check for me.

So when the bill arrived, the waiter placed two receipts on the table: one for her feast, and another showing that my modest salad had already been paid.

I just smiled and watched her expression change.

At first, my friend looked surprised, then embarrassed.

“You could’ve just told me,” she whispered.

see more on the next page