Questions: Relationships

Going will propably show that you are cool, you are not being overly dramatic etc. Plus you don't have to engage with them a lot. Not going will create more space for them to notice your abscence, miss you and wonder where you are. So what do you choose?

So I’ve had an online friend for a few years and he started wishing me a happy birthday every year after we got to know each other a little better. There were times where he would & I wouldn’t, when that were the case, he’d follow up a few days or maybe a week after saying I forgot it was his birthday (more subtly). Last year, he wished me a happy belated & this year I decided to also be more laid back. I just asked him if he had a good birthday maybe a day or two after it actually happened, I sent him that message after he followed up with me about something else. He leaves me on read yet continues to view my IG stories. This has always been the case, he’s always one of the first to see my stories but may go weeks without msging me. A few years back, he’d literally go weeks without replying but will be the first person to see my stories or comment. But when I’d take long to get back to him, he’d *jokingly* say that I’m ignoring him or ask if I’m busy. Honestly I don’t feel like I did anything wrong so I don’t see the need to reach out, it just seems hypocritical. You can be busy but I can’t? He hasn’t made a comment like that in years & his response time has gotten better but it’s been almost 3 months & I haven’t heard from him. I have a tendency to delete people when my frustration has built up, I don’t know if it’s an avoidant personality style trait. But he’s the only “friend” I have so I want to think this through. It’s not looking too good & I’m feeling tempted to ignore him if he ever reaches out again