You never know when you will need—really need—a friend.

It's easy to let friendships fade when you are part of a couple.

Friendship requires investments of time and energy but pays valuable dividends.

One evening many years ago, Tom did not come home when I expected him, and he didn’t answer his phone. My mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario, as one’s mind does.

I was panicked and freaked out, and my first instinct was to call someone to be with me as I figured out what to do and/or went out looking for him, fully expecting to find him bleeding in a dark parking lot. But at that moment, I realized I didn’t know who to call. The few close friends I had lived far away.

Like many married couples, Tom and I depended heavily on each other for all things. He was my love, my buddy, my helpmate, my housemate, my Saturday night date, and my weeknight “I don’t feel like cooking, let’s go out” companion. As an introvert with limited need for social contact, I was satisfied to just hang with Tom, and so friendships faded in importance. Lots of acquaintances, no friends.

And so there I was, frantic, with no one to call.

As I was pulling myself together to go out looking for Tom, alone, he pulled into the driveway. I’d forgotten that he’d told me he had after-work........

© Psychology Today