Author: Lily Green

Date: April 27, 2025

I’ve been thinking about my best friend a lot lately, and the more I reflect on it, the more I’m convinced I watched her transform into someone unrecognizable. We met when we were just 13. She was this sweet, bubbly, caring person, the kind of friend who would give the best hugs and always knew how to make me feel heard. I loved spending time with her, and for years, I thought we were inseparable. It felt like we could face anything together.

But when we turned 16, something started to change. It was subtle at first, but over time, it became glaringly obvious. She became distant—cold even—and no longer seemed to care about the things that once mattered to her. It was like she built a wall around herself, shutting everyone out. I didn’t understand it, but I tried to be there for her.

Then, things got even more strange. She began acting emotionally manipulative—like everything was a game. She’d twist situations to make me feel guilty, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. I noticed she was becoming more promiscuous, hopping from one short-lived relationship to the next, something that was completely out of character for her. She went from not caring about having a boyfriend to being in and out of relationships every single month, each one barely lasting more than a few weeks. It was like she didn’t even care about the people she was with.

I eventually found out that her dad was seriously ill. I wanted to believe that the change in her was because of the stress and grief she was dealing with. I tried to be supportive, even when she pushed me away. But even when she opened up about how hard things were, it didn’t feel real. It was as if she was just saying what she thought people wanted to hear, but there was no depth to it.

She seemed to be living in a world where nothing was authentic anymore—everything was for show. And I hated myself for not being able to help her, for not understanding what was happening. I had this nagging feeling that something was seriously wrong, like I was watching my best friend fade into someone else.

I don’t know what happened to her. I don’t know if it’s because of her father’s illness or something deeper, but she wasn’t the same person I met when we were 13. I still don’t understand what happened, and it’s been years since I last saw her. I often wonder if she even remembers the way she used to be. I still miss the friend she used to be, the one who cared deeply, the one who would comfort me when I was sad. But that person doesn’t exist anymore, and I don’t know if she ever will again.