When Dena* first met Cara* it was like something outside of them clicked. It felt like a friendship that had been predetermined by the universe.

“We actually met at a mutual friend’s hen party,” Dena recalls. “Immediately, I was drawn to Cara. We had similar careers, similar interests, and when the conversation flowed, we realised we had the exact same sense of humour too. We didn’t stop laughing.

“So, after the party, we decided to stay in touch.”

For the bones of a year, the pair were in contact weekly by text and phone call. They met regularly for drinks and dinner and even went on holidays together.

“It’s always harder to make new friends when you are that bit older,” Dena notes. “It was lovely to have found a new mate so easily. I was genuinely so happy to have her in my life. She even met some of my existing friend group and they loved her too.”

As time went on, Dena started to notice elements about Cara that didn’t sit right. But she ignored them and gave her friend the benefit of the doubt.

When is it time to give up on a friend?