We all had those friends we considered close and shared amazing moments with we inexplicably drifted away from, right?

An Open Letter to the Friends that Drift Away

Dear friendacquaintance friend,

How did the late nights exchanging laughter, our random adventures out, or the plentiful dominoes orders turn into these awkward, small-talk, encounters? We shared everything, from meals, to all kinds of advice and even struggle when studying late nights. Our adventures produced inside jokes seemingly infinitely funny only imagining the many more jokes and memories we would eventually create. Everything felt perfect, natural, and exciting. Now it’s all been reduced to a polite smile and a couple word exchange.

Soon slowly, I witnessed our friendship decline as we trimmed less. Each meal became filled with more silence and less excitement. We asked each other for advice less often and simply spent less time together. While Snapchat captured our separate paths, it also captured our happiness with our different paths. Though saddening, the cliché of nothing lasts forever became reality. At the very least we were both happy which eased the friendship giving it a sense of closure.

With time, like those inside jokes raising less laughter with each mention, our friendship strained.

Perhaps my laziness, poor time management, or our overall different interests lead to our slow separation. Were we just freshman anxious to create friends not fully realizing our low compatibility? We all have those friends we unintentionally drift away from. The same friends we briefly connected with for a second, imagining the start to a wonderful friendship. Yet, time, life or who knows works its wonders. The last time we messaged, a few weeks ago, either concerned homework or small favors needed.

While I’ll never really know exactly why or how we drifted apart, I certainly know those moments of stomach aching laughter were genuine and unforgettable. The last time we messaged, a few weeks ago, either concerned homework or small favors needed, but I hope you know that I cherish our friendship no matter how short and still do care about you. If you ever found yourself needing someone, I’m here. We’d have awkward small-talk to overcome, yet surely friendships resemble bike riding. Perhaps after minutes of almost forced catching up, we’d find ourselves in the same comfortable interaction as before.

Your friends always,