Friendship used to be gabbing and laughter and knowledge.
It was deep conversations about struggles and joys. A morning walk or a coffee together.
It was a daily or weekly phone call.
A familiar voice. A trip to the mall.
It was tight hugs with weary arms and wet tears on shoulders.
Now friendship is all ephemeral thumbs
and carefully chosen emojis.
It’s a birthday wish on an ethereal wall.
It’s LOLs and faceless texts.
(It must be an emergency if it requires a call.) It’s more shared nonsenses than shared existences.
It’s comments and cat videos and photo streams. It’s hearting each other’s lunch choices and liking the same memes.
You hardly even know who you “know.” Three dimensional friendship seems rarer the longer our friend lists grow.