Friendship or Fading Favors?

In a city where friendships often feel like a distant fantasy, where social lives are as fleeting as a subway train, the one thing you rely on is your long-distance friends. But let’s get real for a second—do they miss you the way you miss them? Do they care like you care?

Growing up, I always imagined that, if I didn’t find the perfect life partner, I’d at least have the perfect friends. You know, the kind who show up for everything—the late-night heart-to-hearts, the spontaneous weekend trips, the “just because” celebrations. And for a while, I thought I had it.

But as the years go by, I start to wonder: is "perfect friendship" just another myth? Why did that feeling of certainty turn into doubt? Why did the friends I thought I could count on suddenly seem so... absent?

There’s a moment when you realize your dream of living a Sex and the City life isn’t exactly panning out. Life has its own way of delivering reality checks—usually when you least expect them.

So, picture this: you’re excited to ring in the New Year with your girls—what could be better than a night of laughter and champagne? Then, one friend suggest to celebrate it with my future husband(whom I don't even know in which corner of the world he's in). Another says she has “commitments” with her boyfriend. And yet another friend—well, he dodges the bullet and makes plans with another group.

And then, there’s the inevitable: “Why do you even want to celebrate the New Year? It’s just a year, after all.”

Really? Is this what friendship looks like in adulthood? You spend all year waiting for the one time you can all get together—and when it finally happens, you’re left wondering if anyone really cares. I mean, sure, everyone’s busy with their lives, but at some point, it stops feeling like a coincidence and starts feeling like... well, a trend.

One year-end celebration? Nope.

One proper trip together? No chance.

Showing up when it counts? Apparently not.

Excuses are fine, but after a while, they start to feel more like lies. And you can’t keep lying to someone and expect them not to catch on.

Here’s the thing—friendships, like any relationship, should be worth keeping. They should make you feel seen, heard, and valued. Not just when it's convenient or easy, but when it matters. If they’re not worth the effort, maybe it’s time to let them go, or at least take a step back.

So here I am, in the middle of a New Year’s Eve that’s spent mostly with myself. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe the lesson is that, sometimes, you have to rely on your own company before you can truly appreciate the people who show up when it counts.

Happy New Year to me.