Dear Arie:

It’s okay that you took long to respond, I appreciate reading back from you!

Your choice to not attend gatherings where Amy and her boyfriend are present reads reasonable to me, very reasonable.

“she was never a true friend to me like my childhood best friend was (now deceased)“- I bet you miss your true friend very much. How did it feel, at the time, to have a true friend?

“even if I did apologize and attend parties where they will be, there still will be a lot of friction and tension in the air.  So its best  I stay far away.“- I agree, better stay away from friction and tension whenever possible: for your peace of mind, and for the peace of mind of the people who do care about you and who treat you well.

anita

Dear Arie:

“She was my true friend. She was more than just my best friend. She was like a sister to me…. this is still to this day very difficult for me not having her here to talk to, to do things with and we kept each other’s secrets.  Secrets no one knew about, not even our parents.  We were there for each other during weddings, the birth of our children,  even when our children would get sick, during funerals , you name it. When she passed, I never felt so alone… it is so hard to for me to trust the friends I do have. So.. yes.. it was wonderful to have had a true best friend. I miss her so much. I visit her grave often.  Just wish people wouldn’t break my trust in them.“-

– this is such a special, precious tribute to your true best friend. It makes me smile as I imagine two 3rd graders playing together; two adolescents telling each other secrets and keeping them; two young women dating.. getting married; two mothers, all the way to three years ago. This is a lifetime of true friendship

I am so sorry for your loss.

Trust is indeed very important in personal relationships, but also in business relationships, and in human interactions in general.  Thank you for sharing about your friend and about the value of trust.

anita