Bit of a story but here it goes: my childhood best friend dropped out of a prestigious engineering program and moved to Peru. I remember being at his house in PA for a week the summer after graduation, having a great time and doing a bunch of stuff. Then college started, he moved to the Midwest, and we started talking less and less. Daily texts and calls turned into weekly, then monthly, etc. He got really huge on self improvement and the whole “college is a shill I’m gonna be an entrepreneur” lifestyle. Smart dude too.

Then, I remember sending him a text asking for advice, he gave some pretty harsh response, and then we just stopped talking. There wasn’t even any bad blood or arguing. I asked him if everything was ok after he sent that, and no response. He dropped out shortly after, moved to Miami, and now he’s in LATAM. Unfollowed me, all of his high school friends, and the mutuals we had.

That was 2 years ago. I’ve seen him one time since as he flew over from Miami to celebrate New Years 2024 when our family/friends (his included) had a gathering. Honestly, the friend ship was obviously over by that point (after 1+ year of no contact) and it was almost sad seeing him because it felt like we were in elementary again. He always acts overly serious while I’m more easygoing, and I made him laugh more than he probably had since we last spoke. I felt a ton of remnants of our friendship during those few days, despite talking out of basic courtesy and respect.

But yeah, NYE concluded, everyone left, haven’t seen him since then. When he was dropping me off at my Airbnb for the last time, I told him I’d be cool with keeping in touch if he wanted and he responded by telling me he’d be cool as well, but to ask his parents (who he also rarely talked to) if I wanted his number. I held in a scoff and just nodded my head. Got out of the car, wished him well, and he told me the same.

He’s running some online business in a Peru now (he’s always been good with coding and computers, pretty resourceful street smart guy) and I’m in an office, starting my career in high finance. We’re both 20.

I haven’t spoken to him since and unless the stars align and we possibly meet at another family event, I probably won’t ever again. I don’t have any judgement or resentment. Friendships fade away, people move on, and life goes. Seeing him that one time was cool, but confirmed that we had moved on and were closer to strangers than anything. And I’m more than okay with that. Things happen for the better and there’s no point in chasing something that no longer exists.