Xtras

VII. Frienship?

I was the kind of friend who was always there, ever ready to lend a hand. My philosophy was simple - what's the point of friendship if we don't help each other? I was the one they could count on, the one they could turn to in times of need. I believed in the power of reciprocity, in the unspoken pact of mutual assistance and support that underpins every true friendship.

But as the sand in the hourglass slipped away, I began to notice a change. It was subtle at first, a missed group selfie here, a forgotten birthday there. I brushed it off as mere oversights, a result of the chaotic whirlwind we call life. But the instances started to pile up, and the pattern became harder to ignore.

I found myself on the outskirts, an outsider looking in. When they found new company, I was sidelined, relegated to the role of an alternate. I was no longer part of the inner circle, but a peripheral presence that could be easily overlooked. The realization was as bitter as it was heartbreaking.

In the end, I was forced to confront a harsh truth. I had allowed myself to become an option in their lives, while they remained a priority in mine. I had given them a place of importance, while I was just another name on their list. I had been generous with my time and energy, only to be met with indifference.

The lesson was clear: Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option. It's a painful realization, but a necessary one. It's a reminder to value ourselves, to demand the respect and consideration we deserve. After all, we teach people how to treat us by what we allow, what we stop, and what we reinforce.

Can you relate to this? Have you ever felt the same way?