Although some may trivialise the importance of online friendship, I can’t even begin to explain the impact it has had on my life.
Over the Internet, I found a handful of people who shared my views and kookiness and made me feel less alone in the world. These people were open and welcoming, friendly and funny, and made me think that, just maybe, I wasn’t such a terrible person after all.
I can’t talk to them anymore and it feels like my heart is breaking.
At at the end of the day, when the house goes quiet, I lie in silence and think about them all, wondering how they are and what they’re up to.
I think about their relationships and hope that they’re safe and well after broken ones, and that they’re exploring new beginnings. I think about those who have been together for years and hope they’ll always be as happy and in love. I think about those in new relationships, hoping that the initial rush of excitement remains as they explore and settle into each other.
I think of those who were ill and undergoing all kinds of brutal treatment and hope that they’re doing well and are still managing to keep their wicked sense of humour. I think of those who were despondent and struggling and hope that the dark times are over and that they’re happy and will still be there when I get back. If…
I think about house-hunting and threesomes and new jobs and poetry and flirting and the awful possibility of no longer being first reserve and then I scrunch my face up and just wish that they’re all happy and healthy and safe.
Then I fall asleep and dream of them, too. My saturated brain concocts faces and voices to fill the gaps where information is lacking, but I know who they are.
And I miss them all.
I hate when people trivialise online friendships. I have made so many wonderful friends through the internet. Many of them have turned into friends in real time too but many of them remain online only and are no less for it. I also found Michael online, without the internet we would never had met, living on different continents would have seen to that but the internet allowed us to make that connection which led to a long distance relationship and ultimately marriage.
I do wonder what happened that means you can no long talk to your friends. I can completely understand how that would be so difficult and I hope that maybe there is some chance that might change for at some point
Mollyxxx
I don’t think some people understand how important online friendships can be for some people. There are a lot of things I can’t share with with real life people and sometimes the friends I have made online seem far more real to me.
I have thought about quitting my blog and Twitter, especially when things get tough, but I really would be lost without them.
I do hope you can reconnect with them sometime soon. I’m sure they do miss you and think about you. I know there are a couple of people of people I still think about even though they aren’t around.