"We wanted to give you space."

How many situations have you analyzed after they were over and asked yourself, "What the heck was I thinking?" But then again, it's always easier to criticize in retrospect, isn't it? It's also much easier when it's someone else you're criticizing.

I don't think it's possible to see yourself in the middle of a big mess; the fine lines between right and wrong blur so inconveniently. That's when friends come in, or they should at least.

A sentence that cracks me up time after time, "I wanted to tell you, but." But what?! Seriously what?! What kept you so quiet for so long? How could you see so clearly that I was lost and didn't see that I couldn't see it for myself?

One of the great answers I get for this is, "We wanted to give you space." This draws a smile of disgust on my face each and every time.

I truly believe there are no boundaries between "real" friends. A real friend tells you what they think regardless of whether you'll like it or not, regardless of whether you want to hear it or not. They'll tell you at that time that you're screwing up, not after the storm has passed. Friends don't "give you space", they don't let you wander around lost. They don't suddenly turn up after you've gotten up on your feet and start giving you words of wisdom you don't need anymore, but needed badly back when you were falling.

Please don't give space no one ever asked for. Please don't tell someone, "I wanted to tell you, but." Saying you wanted to do something is one thing, and actually doing it is a whole something else. If you didn't have the guts to speak when it mattered, don't bother saying anything afterwards.

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