A deer and a crow were close friends. A jackal, wanting to eat the deer, befriended it and slowly gained trust. When he tried to lure the deer into a trap, the crow — who had observed the jackal's methods from above — warned it in time. The deer escaped; the jackal found only himself.
Friendships form a network of visibility. A single trusted observer who reads motivations clearly can protect you from those whose affection has an undisclosed agenda. The crow saw what the deer could not see at ground level.
Who in your close circle sees clearly enough to flag when someone's interest in you may not be genuine? Do you actually listen to them?
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