At some point in our lives, we'll all experience a fading friendship. I don't mean to sound grim, but it could be a fight, distance, or something else. I have recently gone through something of this nature with someone I once considered my best friend.

Inescapable sorrow flooded my heart the instant I became aware of my fading friendship with my closest confidant. Desperation provoked me to rehabilitate what was once a seemingly endless relationship, now dissolving and slipping through my fingers. The conspicuous truth, unbeknownst to me until that moment, was that my friendship was no longer ‘in the good days.’ I felt disheartened and the truth was sobering.

I tried to salvage what used to exist between us, because there is something to be said for friends who can comfortably exist and be wholly accepted for who they are in each others' presence. I was willing to fight for my friend because the incredible moments we shared shouldn’t be discarded as if they were rotting produce in my refrigerator.

However, there came a time when I realized I was the only one putting in any effort to fix things. I was the only one attempting to make plans and they either always had an excuse or simply didn’t respond. They became short with me when I tried to strike up conversation or reach out. Their indifference towards me left me feeling genuinely unimportant to them. It was incredibly hurtful.

I miss the profound conversations that opened my eyes, opened my heart, and helped me grow as a person. I miss our preternatural love and curiosity for the universe and everything magical. I loved this person because who they were made me better. They knew me better than I knew myself and they gave me the courage to make one of the scariest decision of my life. How could I let go of someone I felt like I owed my new, exceptionally happy life?

Someone dear to me advised that I let go, because my relentless and unsuccessful attempts to reach out to my best friend were hard to watch. I knew he was right; I was just making myself suffer. For a time, my friend and I were separated by many miles, and I was happy that they embarked on new adventures. I'm still happy for them and cherish the friendship we had, but I’m no longer getting my hopes up by pretending our friendship is the same as it was. I won't exhaust myself trying to mend things with someone who doesn't seem interested anymore.

Just to be clear, I haven’t completely given up on our friendship. My friend didn’t betray me and we didn’t have a huge fight. We have simply drifted apart for the time being. I believe they were in my life to help me grow and aid me through hard times, and for that I will never regret our time together. They’ll always occupy a special place in my heart. If the universe throws us back together, I will gladly embrace the reunion with open arms. Until then, I will be tending to my own well-being and genuinely wishing my friend the very best in life.