Before I get into the details I need to define a one-sided friendship. According to me, a one-sided Friendship is a relationship between two people where one person truly cares about the friendship and does what friends are supposed to do while the other just receives the perks of friendship without reciprocation. In my case, I am the friend who cares and I am here to tell you that it is not a great position to be in, but it is also not a position that is easy to break away from in fear of hurting someone or being hurt. A one-sided friendship is extremely painful but for some reason feels nearly impossible to escape from.
I have always put others before myself and I know that is a common trait in many people. I enjoy helping and being there for people in any way that it is possible. This trait, however, is what allows me to be hurt by people and their actions. I care so much for people that when the feeling isn't mutual it tears me down. My one-sided friendship is one of the biggest suppliers of hurt. I care way too much about this person that no matter how much they disappoint me, I constantly try to rationalize their actions in order to make the friendship stronger than it ever will be. I watch this person constantly choose other people over me, allowing me to think that I was doing something wrong. I constantly try to use this persons, “incredibly busy schedule,” to make sense of their inability to take 5 minutes to come talk to me.
The worst part about this “friendship,” is the fact that I cannot stop fighting for it no matter how well I know that this person is using me. I text this person asking about how they are because I care and on the off chance that I actually get a response, there is never an “I’m great, how are you?” This person will never hesitate to tell me how great or awful they are without ever asking how I may be. All this person wants to do is receive any benefits of our friendship whilst also enjoying ranting about how amazing or horrible their day might have been. It is really mind boggling to me that someone could completely disregard a so called “best friend.” I truly wish that, in this case, I could take a step back and separate myself from this toxic friendship.
As you read this, I hope you can see and understand how horrible a one-sided Friendship truly is. I also hope that you never find yourself in a friendship such as this, and if you are already stuck, just try to take a step back. It is hard to care about someone and know that they deal with you instead of actually caring about you. It is time for me, and anyone else stuck, to surround yourself with true friendships instead of allowing yourself to be completely overtaken by one awful friendship.
