Hello, "friends."

I know it's normal for people to drift apart. I know that it's dumb for me to hold you to what you said because, quite frankly, it's unrealistic of me to think that someone would stay in my life forever.

I mean, people grow apart. People get into new hobbies and such. People die.

All sorts of things happen to people that prohibit them from staying in your life forever. I know that, but for some reason, it hurts more when a friend promises to stay and leaves than when they don't promise anything at all.

So many people have said that they'd never leave my side, but did. I know better than to believe it from everyone, but there were those few. There were those few people who said that they'd always be there, that they'd never leave, no matter what, that I expected to stay.

I trusted them. I believed them and they left.

People come and go; that's life, but there are certain people who have come into my life and made a HUGE impact on who I am as a person. They taught me things. I told them things. They saw me cry. How are those people, who know the deepest parts of me, just going to walk away without a goodbye or even an explanation?

I know people grow apart, but it just hurts. It hurts to be so close to someone and, all of a sudden, you're the only one putting in the effort. It hurts to know that you're not worth even half as much of the energy as you put in.

I kept trying and trying, but eventually, I got tired of it. I was the person who texted or called first. I was the person who made the plans. It's exhausting being the one who seems to always care more.

I just want to feel like I'm actually important to someone for once. I don't want to feel like I'm wasting my time, and I don't want to feel like I'm the only one who's putting energy into a friendship.

I'm not asking for much in a friendship. I mean, we don't have to hang out or talk every day. I just don't want to be the only one picking up the phone first to make plans or talk. I'm done with that.

I can't be the one who cares more anymore. I need to start believing actions and not just words.

Thank you, my "friends" who left, for teaching me that lesson.