As we grow and change, so do the relationships we have with the people around us and the things we hold dear to our hearts. With that being said,as we grow and change, often the proposition of friendship being finite becomes a real and pressing matter. Sometimes people move away, change schools, change interests, or just plain old change their minds.

Personally, I've found the worse friendship failures come from those that just disappear. After all, friends are the people you choose to have in your life, beyond the people you are forced to be around. With that being said, here I leave a letter to the friends I have lost, with no quarrel or reason, simply due to their absence.

To my former friends,

Your presence was irreplaceable in my life. We did everything together. We existed as a unit, composed of inside jokes, beautifully woven histories and shared passions. Observably inseparable, the bond we cultivated seemed to be unbreakable, with every possible moment being shared in blissful laughter or intense conversation. You were always there, for projects, for support and for entertainment. Whether it be working towards a deadline or wasting away on beautiful summer days, you were always there. Everything was perfect, aside from the petty arguments here and there present in every friendship and it seemed to be flowing fine. Until it wasn't.

Just like that, with the batting of an eye, you were gone. Having uprooted yourself from life, with no obvious cause or reason, you left me to wonder what I possibly could have done. I attempted to reach out, seeking closure in the midst of our rapid demise. You ignored me. My calls, texts, visits all became unanswered pursuits. There was no grand finale; there was no explosion. In fact, there wasn't even any fizzling out. There were pleasant company and comfortable bonds, and then there was nothing, just a severed bond with no explanation.

Sure, there were whispers through mutual acquaintances, with claims of personal trouble or my own fault, but nonetheless, the answer seemed to be lost in thin air, just like our friendship. Despite the struggle of the moment, being abandoned by a friend, I thank you.

You all taught me things I needed to learn, whether or not I wanted the lesson. I know better than to dive too deeply, and to be cautious with my innermost thoughts. You taught me to be open to new people, and that although change can be rough, it brings more potential than living in the past.

So yeah, you hurt me in the short term, but long term, I'm doing fine. In fact, I'm doing fantastic, and I have no regrets. A friendship ended is a lesson learned, and there is no place to go but on forward.