I Believed in Their Promises, Their Smiles, and Their Words, She Says, But One Day I Discovered the Extent of Their Deception, the Lies They Told to Everyone I Loved, and How They Had Slowly Turned My Life Into a Nightmare Without Me Even Noticing
My name is Esther Njeri, and for a long time, I believed that sincerity could protect me from harm. I lived in Nyeri town, where I worked as a project coordinator for a local NGO while running a small side business selling household supplies. I was known as kind, trusting, and approachable. People often told me I had a good heart. I believed that if I treated others with honesty and respect, they would do the same. That belief would later become the doorway to my worst nightmare.
The people who betrayed me were not strangers. They were close friends and relatives who constantly reassured me of their support. They encouraged me, celebrated my small wins, and promised to stand with me no matter what. I trusted their smiles and believed their words. I shared my struggles, my future plans, and even my private fears with them. I never imagined that every detail I shared was being stored, twisted, and later used against me.
The change was slow and almost invisible. Friends stopped calling me. Family members became distant. People I loved started treating me with suspicion and coldness. I could not understand why. When I asked what was wrong, I was told everything was fine. Behind my back, however, lies were spreading quietly. Stories were told about me being dishonest, unstable, and selfish. The people spreading these lies smiled at me every day and asked how I was doing.
