I feel kinda bad even writing this out, like it’s a dumb thing to complain about when so many people got REAL problems, you know? But it's just... it's been on my mind. For a long time, like years, my whole life was kinda focused on... well, on taking care of someone. That’s done now. And honestly, there's this weird mix of awful sadness but also... like a huge weight just gone. And for a bit, it felt like, okay, now what? Like who am I if I’m not doing that thing anymore? And I thought, okay, this is it, this is when I finally get to just BE, and hang out with the people who know me best. And then my best friend, the person who REALLY gets me, got this amazing job offer across the country. And like, of course, I told her she HAS to go. No question. This is her dream, her big chance, and I would never ever want her to miss it for me. I’m HAPPY for her, really. But it just hits different now. Before, we could just text and be like "wine tonight?" and it happened. Or if I was having a really CRAPPY day, she'd just show up with pizza. Now it's all "let's schedule a call for next Tuesday" and it's not the same. It's just... not spontaneous. And I know it's selfish to even think this, but I kinda needed that spontaneity, you know? It’s like, we spend all this time building up these connections, these people who know our weird little habits and the dumb stories from way back when. And then life just... pulls you apart. And I look around and it's like, who's left? Everyone's got their own thing going on. Their kids, their jobs, their other friends. And I’m just here, feeling a bit... untethered, I guess. Like a boat that got loose from its dock and is just sorta floating. Not really going anywhere, just... floating. And part of me is like, this is just how it is. This is being human, things change. But another part is just really, really lonely. And I’m not sure what to even do about it. Or if there IS anything to do.