Dear Long Lost “friends,"
It seems as though it was just yesterday that we were walking the halls together, gossiping at the lunch table, and painting our faces for football games. I remember our late night phone calls and 24-hour friend group text messages. I looked forward to our sleepovers, carpools to parties, and shopping sprees at the mall. I remember our inside jokes, in fact, I still smile and think about them whenever something reminds me of you. I remember how much I dreaded waking up in the morning to go to school, but I was always relieved when I saw my gal-pals waiting by my locker. On those random days where you were sick or decided to skip school, I knew it was going to be a long and rough day for me. I remember promising each other that we would live it up together senior year and we sure as hell did. I also remember promising each other that we would be friends forever, but it seems as though that promise has already been broken.
So where are you now, friend(s)? Why have you distanced yourselves so far away from me? I know it is wrong of me to put all of the blame on you, so I won’t. However, I feel as though I have put in my effort and haven’t received much back from you. Is it because you are too busy? Is it because you like your friends at your college better than me? Is it easier to just not be friends with me? Did you secretly never like me?
Well, you don’t have to answer any of these questions, per say. Rather, I will let you listen to me:
I have considered you a very good friend of mine. As a matter of fact, I thought we were much closer than you lead me to believe, and now, I feel stupid. I am ashamed that I let myself get so close to someone who truly never cared about me. It is clear now that you are the type of person who is only friends with people who are standing in front of you. However, I am not angry with you, and that is because you taught me a very valuable lesson: to always have my guard up.
A friend is not necessarily someone who you have fun with, more so, a friend is someone who is there when times are easy and when times get rough. A friend is someone who generally cares about you and what is going on in your life. A friend is someone who wants to help and would be sick to their stomach if there was nothing they could do to help you during a hard time. A friend is someone who brings you joy and happiness. Moreover, a friend is someone that is not you.
So, long lost “friend(s)”, I wish you a safe and happy life, but please, don’t come back into my life unless you have an apology first.
