The Call Is Coming From Inside the House

When Betrayal Comes from Someone You Thought Was for You

The Call Is Coming From Inside the House
When Betrayal Wears the Face of Familiarity

Hey love,

This one might stir something in you.
It stirred something in me.

Because here’s what I never expected:
To be sabotaged.
Undermined.
Gatekept.

Not by someone who didn’t know me.
Not by the usual suspects.
But by a Black coworker.
A fellow sister.
Someone who smiled in my face… while helping orchestrate my downfall behind closed doors.

It happened a while ago, but the ache of it still sits with me. I felt shock.
Disbelief.
Confusion.
Anger.
Betrayal.

I kept trying to understand why. I replayed the moments, looked for context, tried to offer grace where I could. But no matter how I turned it around in my mind, it didn’t make sense.

Even now—even as time has passed and I’ve moved forward in so many ways—there’s still a part of me that’s healing.

Because what happened?
It wasn’t just a workplace conflict—it was a violation of sacred trust, wrapped in shared identity.
It was the kind of betrayal that leaves a scar where there should’ve been safety. And when the knife comes from someone who looks like you, it cuts differently.

The Smile Was Performative. The Sisterhood Was for Show. The Solidarity? A Façade.

This wasn’t just office politics.
This wasn’t healthy competition.
This was intentional sabotage wrapped in a sisterhood smile.

It was internalized racism.
Self-hatred.
Naked ambition.
Selfishness dressed up as strategy.

She aligned herself with power—not people.
She weaponized her proximity to whiteness.
She pretended we were in it together—while quietly setting me up to fail.

And listen… I still believe in us. I still believe in Black sisterhood.
But I’ve learned that not everyone who looks like you is for you.

It’s painful.
It’s personal.
It’s the worst kind of treachery.

And yet… it’s also something we have to talk about if we’re going to heal.
Because betrayal by someone you trusted—someone you believed shared your struggle—is still betrayal.
And naming it is the first step to reclaiming your power.

Let’s Take a Breath – And Then Take a Beat

If you’ve felt this, you’re not alone.
And no, you’re not crazy, too sensitive, or imagining things.
You’re allowed to grieve that kind of loss.
It is a loss.

So here are a few things to hold close:

• All skinfolk ain't kinfolk – You can love your people and still set boundaries with those who do harm.

• Your instincts are valid – If something felt off, it was. You don’t owe everyone access to your energy.

• Naming betrayal is not being divisive – It’s being honest. Healing starts with truth.

• You don’t have to fight alone – Seek out your real people—the ones who move with love, not ego.

Sis, You Are Still Whole

What they did? That’s on them.

Their insecurity.
Their internalized oppression.
Their hunger for proximity to power.

None of that gets to define you.

You don’t have to shrink to stay safe.
You don’t have to harden to survive.
You can be soft and strong.
Discerning and open.
You can protect your peace without losing your light.

Here’s Your Reminder for Today:

I release the betrayal that wasn’t mine to carry.
I walk in truth, and I am surrounded by people who truly see me.
I trust myself. I protect my peace. I stand in my light.

Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

Has this happened to you?
How did you navigate it?
What helped you return to you?

I’d love to hear your story—or just hold space for your healing.
Reply here or come say hi on Bluesky @DrBrooklynChick.

With truth, tenderness, and radical love,
Dr. Brooklyn Chick