Losing a Best Friend.

Losing a best friend is difficult. It doesn't matter why, or how, it's always a struggle and it takes a long time to realise that perhaps, the friendship you had was not as valuable as you once thought.

I am twenty, and in University around 350 miles away from my home town along with all my friends and family. That gave me a pretty wide berth to find new friends, and also have a little time away from the ones I already had.

At eighteen, I had left all my distant school friends behind me, and had a very close circle. In particular, two girls I would consider my best friends. One, I had known since the first year of College, and one I had known all the way back from Year Seven. Both were valuable to me, both I cared about deeply. Neither, however, always had the same respect back. I noticed, especially as years passed, that these two individuals weren't overly happy about my successes unless they had something larger and more important to talk about. They didn't congratulate me on things I had done unless they had something to say that would top it. It was wearing, and I didn't realise just how much it had taken a toll until I left.

I only just passed my birthday, last month. I got a brief text from one, and nothing from the other. My true best friend, from school at least, didn't say anything until I posted for her birthday.

It hurts more than you'd expect, honestly, and I'm more than aware that people experience this all the time. It doesn't make it the slightest bit easier, unfortunately.

Fortunately, I've found more friends at University, and I value them far more than any friendship I've had previously. They support and challenge me, and while it isn't always easy, I'm very, very glad I know them all.

Losing a best friend will always, always be difficult, even if, perhaps, you outgrow them. Often when you travel, or move away, you learn new things and mature to a level that isn't comparable to the friends you left behind. That's not a bad thing, it just means that perhaps with your personal growth, you need some new friends, too.

#friends #friendship #university