Gemma Spake

You know, you get to call two people your best friend.

It can also get really, really messy.

One person always kind of maybe feels slightly left behind or distant or like despair.

There are moments of jealousy and resentment.

And I guess it's really easy to see why.

It's not just two people navigating and bouncing their emotions between each other.

Suddenly, it's like almost a bit of a project to keep three different bonds going at once, plus the entire friendship of the three of you as a whole.

This is a perfect segue into a story that inspired this episode from a listener.

who wrote in with an experience exactly like this, looking for some advice.

And I asked her, can I share this story for this episode?

And she said, yes, please.

So this was her message.

I need some advice on whether it's time for me to leave my toxic friendship trio.

Some context, me and my best friends have known each other since we were eight years old.

We're 24 now.

We all went to college together and we've obviously had our ups and downs, but always remained thick friends throughout it all.

We even dated best friends.

My friends were bridesmaids at my sister's wedding.

It has kind of been a fairy tale friendship situation in many respects until...

Last month.