and it’s a shift in our dynamic that I hadn’t anticipated. At first, the extra attention felt like a deepening of our friendship, something I initially welcomed. But as the days passed, the constant messages, frequent calls, and insistence on spending more time together started to feel overwhelming.

I valued our friendship and didn’t want to lose what we had, but I also needed to set boundaries to maintain my own comfort and space. Deciding the best approach was direct and honest communication, I invited my friend out for coffee at a quiet café where we could talk openly.

Sitting across from each other, with our coffee steaming gently between us, I gathered my thoughts and expressed how I felt. “I really appreciate our friendship and all the fun we have together,” I began, “but I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by how much time we’ve been spending together. I need some space to balance other aspects of my life too.”