Daily writing prompt

What quality do you value most in a friend?

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I’m going to go on a little tangent here and tell you a story. When I was in college (2010-2011), I had a group of friends that I thought really liked me. The girls and I would go dress shopping, out to eat, and hang out on campus in-between classes. There were about ten students in the group, and it was about half and half girls and guys. I even went to a concert with two of the guys in the most platonic way possible. One day, one of the girls told me that the entire group was talking about me behind my back. I had a crush on one of the guys but never said anything about it and never let it interfere with group activities. Apparently, one of the girls said to him, “Why don’t you go on a date with her?” He was repulsed by the thought and everyone said things along the lines of, “She’d never have a chance with him” and “Ew”.

I never spoke to any of them again until years later. I messaged the one that told me about it and told her I appreciated her and was thankful that she told me about it, so I didn’t look stupid. I saw one of the guys at a job that I had a few years ago. He was nice and we talked for a little while, but that was it. We never spoke again.

I typed all of that to say this: The qualities that I value most in a friend are integrity and loyalty. One of my first cousins and I have been best friends ever since I can remember. When I ask for her advice or for her opinion, I consider it and often take it. She is always there to listen and will tell me when I’m being unreasonable. In my last relationship, she told me that she prayed and prayed for that man to be removed from life. When he left, I didn’t fight for him to stay. There was a peace in my house and heart that I hadn’t felt in a while. I was relieved. She is such an amazing person, and I’m thankful to have her in my life.

Another friend that I have had since I was about eight years old came back into my life a few years ago. We talked here and there and followed each other on social media, but it wasn’t like it was when we were kids and teenagers. I moved schools back in elementary school and lost contact with her. When I came back, she moved to the school that I had left, and we lost contact for a long time. We decided to start hanging out again and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. She and I are each other’s go-tos when it comes to last minute childcare help and texting just to talk about anything and everything. It’s a blessing to have someone you trust with your flesh and blood. We definitely have one another’s backs.

I truly believe that if your friends aren’t at this level, they aren’t worth having. If you can’t trust them alone in your house, with your children or with your personal problems, are they really going to be there for you when you need them?