I wonder if there’s a word for changed friendships.

After you’re in a relationship, your ex-relationship partner becomes that: an ex.

But what about old friends? There are friendships that are ended on bad terms; your old friend becomes an enemy (or even just a person you heartily dislike). There are friendships that die because of distance; neither party makes enough of an effort to keep in touch. 

And then there are friendships that slowly fade from it’s intensity into a whisper of what it once was. What do you call those? I mean, you’re still my friend. We just…aren’t as close as we once were. And I regret that, but our lives are just going in different directions. Our close friendship isn’t as convenient anymore and it just…isn’t a priority.

I feel like it’s an insult when I can’t call you my best friend, but we just aren’t what we used to be. I miss you, but I know you’re doing well. I know you care about me, just like I care about you, but neither of us can dedicate the time it takes to be best friends. And maybe there are other reasons we can’t be close.

But I do miss you. I do care about you. I do wish you the very best in life. And I wish that I could be a part of that life.

Just…what do we call this thing that we’re in?