Ten years ago, I crossed paths with a girl named Mia. Initially, I had my doubts about her. I knew her through her roommate, and let’s just say she was a bit unconventional. At just 18, she packed her bags and moved across the country to be with a boyfriend she had never met in person, only known through years of online chats. I only got to meet him twice in seven years.
Mia was a passionate vegan, a self-taught expert in feminism and human sexuality. Though her sarcasm could be sharp, her kindness and thoughtfulness were unmatched. We quickly became close friends. I helped her secure a job in eldercare, where she bravely highlighted the sexual abuses faced by undocumented women at the hands of those they were caring for, making her quite unpopular with management.
I genuinely admired her. In fact, I loved her. She was one of my dearest friends, standing by me on my wedding day, assisting with furniture moves, and even serving as a model for my art. I often leaned on her for support, especially during challenging times—like when my boyfriend was undergoing chemotherapy, or when I was six months pregnant with twins and needed to move again.
But one day, after seeing on Facebook that Mia had gotten engaged, I reached out to congratulate her. Instead of joy, I was met with anger. She had a list of grievances against me, many of which seemed unfounded. She accused me of criticizing her fiancé and even claimed I had stolen a DVD—one that I quickly replaced and sent to her. I listened to her grievances, apologizing profusely. When I asked how I could make amends, she told me that the only solution was to cut off all contact.
Heartbroken, I agreed. The months that followed were painfully difficult as I unfriended her on social media and removed her from my contacts. It felt awful because she meant so much to me, and the realization that she preferred my absence over my friendship was crushing.
Although I’ve kept my promise to respect her wishes, I couldn’t resist when her husband sent me a friend request on Facebook. It’s been four years, and I still find myself checking in on her from time to time. Social media makes it too easy to keep tabs on people, especially with mutual friends. I can’t help but feel a sense of pride when I see her name associated with exciting career developments. It’s frustrating that I can’t send her a note expressing my happiness for her achievements, or how proud I am that she’s thriving in a field she was passionate about since she was 18.
Social media has its perks; it keeps us connected and updated on life milestones—like new jobs, engagements, and even restaurant adventures. Yet, it also makes us too visible, allowing anyone to find us if they really want to. I often reminisce about our friendship and find it difficult to simply cut ties completely, especially when I see her name pop up. I hope that she might miss me too, and that one day she’ll check in on how I’m doing, maybe even liking a post or two.
The ache of her absence still lingers, and I wish I could let her know how genuinely happy I am for her. I remain grateful for the friendship we shared and will always be here for her if she ever decides she wants to reconnect.
Conclusion
In summary, friendships can be complicated, and sometimes they end unexpectedly. While social media allows us to keep up with people, it can also remind us of those we’ve lost touch with, making it hard to move on.
Keyphrase: friendship loss and social media
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