I think I may be losing a friend, and it breaks my heart. We were very close once, and at one time we were playmates.

It's a rather long story, but the shorter version of it is that he got almost . . . possessive about me. He seemed to expect playtime when we were at the same event, and would get upset when it didn't happen. After the second incident, I told him if he wanted to remain friends with me, it had to be platonic. He accepted my terms, though things were never quite the same.

I also never told anyone not involved in the incident our platonic status, preferring to let any mutual friends make their own decisions about him and his wife. I was happy when they'd met another couple that they hit it off with really well, even if we ended up becoming friends with that couple.

A few weeks ago, at an event, my friend apparently had the same issues with the other couple, and got upset with them for opting to play with someone else when he felt he had an expectation of play with them.

SIGH. Of course, the other couple was put off by this, and no longer wanted to play with him. And still, I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to get in the middle of anything.

Sure enough, my friend vented to me about the situation, and try as I might, I could not convince him to TALK to the other couple about things, or see that he has NO right to expect play from anyone but his wife (and even then, it's not a guarantee). It didn't get through, and he began to pout and withdraw. And yet, part of me feels sorry for him.

I consider myself a very loyal and forgiving friend, but this has gone beyond what I can (or frankly, am willing) to handle. It hurts to let someone go, but I just cannot continue to allow someone has hurt me--and my friends the way he has.

=(