Love follows a rubric; we know the rules. We have seen the films. We know the end goal.

Friendship, meanwhile, is chaos.

It's rich, it's hot. It burns like a fire. Sometimes it begins with a bang, with others slowly getting hotter over time. They are there, living their lives, and we love them without a guide.

This makes it all the more tragic if (when) they ever fall away.

It's hard to ask, 'Are we still friends?' so I ask the question in myriad ways. I probe, I plan, I like, comment and share.

The withdrawal is quiet. It's unsure whether it's final. My heart breaks slowly, piece by tiny piece.