As you grow older, you begin to notice how the meaning of friendship shifts. The wide circle of companions you once had gradually narrows, and you find yourself reflecting on which relationships endure and which fade away. Some disappear quietly with time, others end through distance or circumstance, and a few dissolve in bitterness. Yet despite these changes, you come to realise that friendship remains one of the defining features of human life.

You recall the early encounters that shaped your social world: classmates from school, colleagues from work, fellow enthusiasts in hobbies, and acquaintances from community gatherings. Each connection carried the potential to grow into something lasting, though not all did. Over the years, you learn to distinguish between casual acquaintances and genuine friends. The former might offer familiarity, but the latter provides loyalty, trust, and the rare gift of mutual understanding.

Among your closest companions may be someone you have known for decades. Perhaps you meet regularly, sharing stories and laughter, and their presence becomes a ritual in your life. Such friendships are not simply about companionship but about resilience—the ability to withstand disagreements, moments of disrespect, and the inevitable changes that life brings. True friendship, you realise, resembles a marriage without sexuality: a bond built on tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.

At the same time, you acknowledge the fragility of these ties. Arguments can sever bonds more painfully than physical distance, leaving scars that linger for years. History reminds you that even the most profound friendships can collapse under the weight of conflict, turning what began with joy into bitterness.

So you ask yourself: what makes a friendship last? You know it is trust, loyalty, and the willingness to share both joys and struggles. Friendship cannot be one-sided. If you are always giving while the other is always taking, the bond will not survive. Friendship requires balance, mutual care, and the courage to confide in one another.

Now, as you look ahead, you may wonder whether new friendships are still possible. Part of you doubts it, but another part knows that life can surprise you. Friendships may not be permanent, but they are worth cherishing while they last. Even if many of the people you once called friends are no longer in your life, the few who remain remind you why friendship matters.