My best friend, Mia, hadn’t always liked my husband,

Aaron. She would w.arn me, gently but firmly,

that something about him didn’t feel right to her.

I never understood her concern because of the fact that

Aaron was always supportive and steady with me. However, her words lingered in the back of my mind.

Then, only weeks after our wedding

, she suddenly left town without explanation.

I was heartbroken and confused; losing

a best friend felt like losing a part of myself.

As I cried about it, Aaron encouraged

me to move forward and assured me that friendships sometimes drift.

I tried to accept that, even though

the silence felt strange.

Three years passed, and life settled into

a comfortable routine. I almost stopped wondering why Mia had disappeared so abruptly.

Then one morning, she returned without warning.

I froze as I saw her, not just because she looked different,

but because her expression held a mix of relief and fear.

She asked whether we could talk privately, and my heart pounded as we sat together.

Mia explained she had left to reflect on her own life

and step away from unhealthy patterns.

She said she had been trying to protect me, even if she went about it the wrong way.