There is a saying: "We don't lose friends. We just learn who our real friends are."

This may be true for some but when it comes to you and me, it couldn't be more wrong. We were friends, best friends and I'll never deny or regret that. This wasn't a case of the backstabbing friend who turned out to be disloyal. It was a case of the best friend who just stopped trying or caring - or maybe just got lazy.

Honestly, I'm not really sure what it was for you. Maybe you just became one of those people you read about on memes who goes months without communicating or responding to those they claim to be their closest friends. It's funny to read about on your phone, but in reality, it's just a person who only makes time for you when it's convenient or beneficial for them.

I use to feel stupid for caring so much and tried to tell myself I was just being overly sensitive. I finally realized that I was being stupid but not for caring too much but for holding on to a friendship and a person who wasn't giving anything back; for spending my time and energy on someone who wasn't spending any on me. The decision to no longer be friends wasn't your choice; it was your actions that led to me making that decision.

People ask me why I am so unwilling to let you back into my life now. Why I don't respond when you attempt to reach out, especially since things didn't end in malice between us. It didn't end in an argument or with hateful words said. It ended in unreturned phones calls and missed birthdays. Things didn't blow up between us, they slowly faded. You let them fade and I spent a long time being mad at you for it, wishing you had cared more.

I used to miss you but I don't anymore. I used to be angry with you but I'm not anymore. I'm not anything towards you anymore, other than grateful. I'm grateful for the memories we made together and I'm grateful for the life lesson you taught me. You taught me how to let things go, how to recognize when a relationship or a person is no longer healthy. When you've given all you can and it's time to move on. I let you go in order to heal and now there is no going back. It doesn't work like that.

I wish you all the best in your life and I know when I see you it'll be all smiles and friendly conversation, but it'll never be what it was and I'll always keep my distance. Because I deserve better and I ran out of chances to give you a long time ago.