Who is a true friend? Part 1

Who is a true friend? Personally, I think that every person has a different answer. To me, a true friend is someone who is honest with you, understands your flaws, and stands by you during the good and rough times. Lately, I'm learning that some I thought were true friends don't even come near that category and others are more true friends than I could have imagined.

7 years ago I went through one of the hardest times in my life.  I had been married for 3 years and with my husband for a total of 10 years. One day I received a text message stating he wasn't come home.  I thought that meant for the night.  Instead, it meant forever.  It came out of nowhere and I was depressed for a year. He told me he was going to send a letter explaining it all.  The letter never came and I still don't know the reasons. I've learned that everything happens for a reason.

At the time I had been really close to his family and my now ex-husband and I had a lot of mutual friends. After a few months he had banned his family from talking to me because it reminded him of how pain he caused.  He had informed our mutual friends that they had to choose between keeping me as a friend or keeping him as a friend.  One of our best friends didn't want to decide so he chose to no longer communicate with either of us :(. I understand his decision as it's a tough place to be.  His best friend chose to stay friends with both of us although he had to keep is friendship from me a secret.   A friend who I've now known for 16 years would not choose. Unfortunately, that meant my ex-husband no longer wanted to be friends with him.  This was hard for me to understand as I'm a shy, quiet person who doesn't want any trouble.  Yes, I was sad but I didn't want to cause anyone pain.  This friend of mine stayed by my side through nights of crying.  He would talk to me for hours late at night when I couldn't sleep.  He saw me go from someone who never really "partied" to someone who wanted to be out all of the time to try and hide my pain.  He helped me find organizations to join when I said I wish there was a match.com for making friends.  Not once did he want anything else. To this day he's still someone I consider one of my best friends. He has proven, not only to me, but to all of his friends, that he is what one could call a true friend. I'm lucky to have him in my life.