Do you still have your childhood friends?
By Real Ray C on
Lately I’ve been thinking about long-term friendships and how much they change as we grow up.
For me, the shift really started after high school in the U.S. Once people moved away for college, jobs, or family reasons, things slowly changed. Texts became less frequent. Group chats went quiet. Life just pulled everyone in different directions.
Some friendships didn’t end because of conflict; they just faded. Different schedules, different priorities, different cities. A few friends stayed in the same town, others moved out of state, and before I knew it, the people I grew up with every day were no longer part of my regular life.
I think that part hits harder when you’re on the spectrum. Routine and familiarity matter, and losing long-term connections can feel like losing a piece of stability. Making new friends as an adult isn’t easy, and replacing people who knew you “from the beginning” feels almost impossible.
I still talk to one or two people from childhood, but it’s not the same closeness we had back then. And I’ve come to realize that doesn’t mean anyone failed; it just means life changed.