I can feel when a friendship no longer gives rest, only pressure

Dear Delyara, My body knows before my mind fully agrees. When her name appears and I feel tightening instead of warmth. When a cancelled plan brings relief instead of disappointment. When I start editing what I say because the friendship feels more expensive than it used to. When I leave interactions feeling drained, slightly misread, slightly overused. That’s how some friendships end now. Not with one event. With accumulation. I stay too long because history embarrasses me into loyalty. But history does not make the present safe. I know that. Still, it takes me forever to act on it.