The Friend Who Vanished in a Maybach

On New Year's Eve, a message from my best friend, Lily Walton, popped up.

[I rented a Maybach for our cats to go back to our hometown. A thousand per person. It has heating and surveillance. Isn't that a great deal?]

I glanced at my banking app, where my mortgage had just been deducted.

[Forget it. My Mochi isn't a princess. She can't afford such an expensive ride.]

The next day, I got a selfie from her—hugging her pet cat inside a Maybach.

[Chloe, it's such a shame you didn't come. The owner was nice enough to give me a ride home too.]

On New Year's evening, right after I stepped through my front door, a frantic knock came at the door.

My best friend's parents stood outside, panic written all over their faces.

"Is Lily here? She hasn't come home at all. She said yesterday she was preparing a birthday gift for you and even took four thousand dollars from us."

Before I could even recover from the shock, the police arrived.

My best friend's last contact… was me.

I was just about to take a nap when another text came in from my bestie, Lily Walton.

Lily: [It's the New Year. Come on, we can't be stingy with our cats.]

Lily: [I'm using my bonus. Plus, I'm buying myself a new outfit. We women need to treat ourselves better.]

I didn't even finish reading the rest of her messages.

The number "1,000" alone jolted me awake.

I quickly typed back.

Me: [1,000?]

Lily: [Yeah. Our little cats are princes and princesses. Can you imagine them rolling up in a Maybach? The other cats would be so jealous.]

I stared at the screen, still unable to process what I was reading.

Even I, the cat's owner, had never ridden in a Maybach. And she wanted me to drop 1,000 just to send a cat home in one?

When I didn't respond, Lily immediately sent a voice message.

Lily: [What's your deal? I'm just looking out for you.]

I sighed and forwarded a screenshot of my boss's message from earlier that morning.

I wasn't being difficult.

The company wasn't doing well.

Layoffs were hanging over my head.

Thinking about that, I kept typing.

Me: [Lily, I might lose my job soon. I'm not in the same boat as you, with a fat year-end bonus just landing in your account.]

Me: [I'd love to go home with you, but I really can't afford to split the cost.]

Me: [And honestly, I'd feel bad just tagging along for free.]

The message bubble showed "typing…" for a long time.

Then Lily replied.

Lily: [I wish I could spot you, but my money's barely enough to cover the trip home and a new outfit.]

After I said I understood, she stopped answering.

That night, after working late, I got home.

Mochi let out a soft meow.

I scooped her into my arms.

"Mochi, my little princess, Mommy can't afford to send you home in a Maybach. You're gonna have to go by air freight instead. Sorry you have to deal with that, baby."

The kitten nuzzled against me, and my heart completely melted.

Air freight would cost a fraction of the price.

I'm not rich—why would I choose the most expensive way to get home?

Mochi is my baby. She'd understand.

I felt surprisingly relieved.

I'd just saved myself 1,000 bucks.

That was a whole month of my salary—gone without me eating or spending a cent.

Even in my dreams that night, I was happy.

That money hadn't been wasted.

…

Early the next morning, I dropped Mochi off for shipping and headed home myself.

On the high-speed train, I was already planning how to spend the money I had left—I'd buy gifts for my parents.

By the time I got there, dusk had already fallen.

The smell of my mom's cooking filled the house, and my dad took the gifts from my hands with a huge grin he couldn't hide.

Before I could even sit down to eat, there was a sudden loud, frantic banging on the door, like someone was trying to break it down.

When I opened it, Lily's mom was standing outside. Her eyes were red and scary, her hair all over the place.

"Where is Lily? Where is she?!"

I was completely confused.

"Mrs. Walton, I didn't come back with Lily…"

She shoved right past me, stormed inside, and started opening every door one by one.

"Lily, come out! Mom and Dad are here to bring you home!"

All she got back was silence.

I walked over slowly.

"Mrs. Walton, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I didn't travel back with Lily."