Many times we stand at the crossroads with friends, lovers, family and you just know in your guts it's time to say no or no more. There's pain in either direction and that indifference you talk about is just postponing the pain. It never works out in the end.

I remember one friend when the "no more" moment arrived. I thought "If I stop calling, I'll never hear from you again." That was only partially true. He showed up a few years later, looking like a ghost, hoping to pick up where he'd left off. I guess he'd burnt every other bridge he had going.

A gentle no was all he needed this time. The bridge had well and truly crumbled and fallen into the river by then. He knew.

I'm bit older than you, not necessarily wiser though. Sure, there were times when I could have done better, but yes, they're that markers the remind you what better means.