Friends come and go throughout your life. If you're lucky, you'll have those few best friends who have always been there and always will be...or at least you thought they would be. As time goes on, people change; it's natural. It's hard to come to grips with the fact that sometimes the friends you thought you'd have forever, leave. They leave like it's nothing but opening a door and walking out. They freeze you out; don't make time for you anymore; don't answer your calls; and move on to a life without you; sometimes for no reason at all. It sucks and leaves you wondering what you've done wrong. The hardest goodbyes are the ones never said and never explained.
You can't blame yourself. In the wise words of Hannah Montana, a true friend is, "here til the end." While you now have to cross them off your future bridesmaids list, you're better off because if they left you at the blink of an eye, then they were never really invested in the friendship at all. A forever friend is someone who wants the best for you. Someone who cares about you and everything going on in your life. They genuinely miss you when you're not around. They always make time for you no matter how busy they are, how far away your schools are from each other, or how much you fight. Friendship is a two way street and if the other person isn't putting in the effort to maintain the relationship, then as terrible as it is, there's nothing you can do. If they don't want to be in your life, you can find someone else who does.
If somewhere down the road, these people return into your life, forgive them. Forgive them no matter how hard it may be. Be the bigger person and forgive because it will bring you peace. No longer will you dwell over the long friendship. It will then be your choice to allow them back into your life and start to rebuild that lost relationship or to forgive and move on with your separate lives. While they did come back, it can be hard to open yourself back up to someone who used to know everything about you. They hurt you once and you can't be certain that they won't do it again. If you really believe that they are sincere and there is a possibility of picking up where you left off, try. If you don't want to take that risk, there is nothing wrong with moving on without them.
You don't need people in your life who just disappoint you time and time again. Be grateful for the amazing friends that you do have and can always count on. Those are the people who you'll be going to brunch with when you're 90 years old bragging about how amazing your grandchildren are. You'll have forgotten all about those that left because in the end, the ones that stay are the only ones that truly matter.
