Irony can sometimes be cruel.

Life is weird.

A good friend called me upset last night because another friend (to protect all parties involved, and confuse me years from now when I reread this, we'll call this person K) has really disregarded my friends' feelings, and doesn't realize what K is doing. My friend was upset, very upset, to the point of tears and expletives. I sat and listened because I know my friend wasn't looking for answers, even though I kept being asked, "What do I do?" I tried to be as good a friend as I could.
At one point, my friend said, "I feel so stuck. I just want to call or text, but K won't give me any answer that will make me feel better. I just want to go over there and explain it, tell K how I feel, but K won't understand. I just want to disappear."

Why is this ironic, you ask?

Because about a year ago, I was in the same boat with this very friend. I wanted nothing more than call this friend, explain how I was hurt, and make my argument. This very friend hurt me, upset me to the point of tears and expletives, and didn't understand. The words that came out of my friend's mouth last night were practically the same words I uttered.

Even though all that happened, we have remained good friends, although my friend still doesn't know or understand how I felt then. My friend has moved on in life to a different set of friends, and I have come to accept my role in my friend's life. It took a long time to get to this place for me. And so last night, my friend calls me?! Am I being used? My friend knows I will be there. My friend knows I still have great love, and my friend, I believe, still has great love for me. My friend talks about having nothing left here and wanting to disappear. I AM HERE. I understand that my friend is hurting, and I will never leave my friend without support, but where is my own personal line to walk away?