"I think it's time to end this lifelong friends."

We’ve been friends for years but at what point do I just give up?

My friend and I have known each other since we were young. Our families were close as our fathers worked together and we were always around one another. We grew up together, we went to primary school together, we travelled overseas together and we even lived together at one point. We were so close we were practically sisters.

I shared everything with her. She knows everything about me and I know everything about her. Or so I thought.

Upon leaving school she was offered what is really, her dream job. In a lot of ways she fell into it straight away and neither her nor I could believe that things were happening so fast. She hadn’t even finished studying before she was offered a position in a very prestigious company.

I was over the moon for her. We celebrated hard and I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for her. This job was everything she ever wanted and she deserved it. It involved a lot of overseas travel and we would go weeks without speaking. It was okay because I was up to date with her adventures by the amazing photos she would post on Instagram of exotic locations and the stories she would tell me when she returned home.

That was a few years ago. These days her career has continued to soar. She is at the top of her game and is well known in her field as a high achiever and a go-getter. She is respected and admired by associates and her popularity has risen dramatically in the last year amongst workmates and the people she socialises with. Unfortunately so too has her ego.

Lately I've noticed changes in her that make me wonder whether our friendship is coming to an end, or rather, make me wonder if I should end it?

The girl I know is smart. She's compassionate and funny but never in a way that it would be considered mean to others. She wasn't arrogant or stuck up; just a regular down-to-earth, good time girl. The last few times I have seen my friend though, there's been something different. Instead, I've had dinner with a conceited, rude and at times down right bitchy individual who seems to think it's okay to make fun of other people. She puts others down and has an obnoxious attitude about her that I wasn't used to.

At first I was shocked and put it down to all the changes in her life but I left our catch ups feeling heart broken. Is this what success does to everybody or is she simply having trouble adjusting to her new found situation?

I have to say, I don't like the person she has morphed into at all.

The part that hurts the most is that she no longer makes the effort with me. Each and every time I've seen her has been because I organised it. I can't remember the last time she texted me to see how I am and when I think of messaging her, I wonder whether I'm harassing her. I've asked her about it before and she has assured me that nothing is wrong. I tend to believe this is the case because she is (was?) the kind of person that would be upfront about this kind of thing.

So what am I to do? I am saddened at the thought of walking away from a lifelong friendship and not having that person around but at the same time I don't want to feel like the sad puppy dog always begging for some attention.

How do you know when it's time to end a friendship?

Want more? Try this:

“Don’t judge me, but… I won’t be giving my friend a wedding present.”

“Will a small wedding ruin my friendships?”