Andrew’s Lesson: The Price of Unreciprocated Time

Andrew had always been a giver. Whether it was his time, his attention, or his resources, he never hesitated to offer them up to those he cared about. Among his friends—Ethan, John, Kylie, Kayla, and Zoe—Andrew was known as the reliable one, the shoulder to lean on, the one who would drop everything to help out. But there was one person who always seemed to demand more from Andrew than anyone else: Zoe.

Zoe and Andrew had met during their freshman year of college, and Andrew was immediately taken with her. She was vibrant, full of life, and seemed to light up any room she entered. Andrew, being naturally introverted, was drawn to her energy like a moth to a flame. Over time, they grew close, or at least, Andrew felt they did. He would spend hours helping Zoe with her assignments, listening to her problems, and supporting her through her endless series of breakups and makeups.

As the years passed, Andrew’s feelings for Zoe deepened, but there was always something holding him back from confessing them. Perhaps it was fear of rejection or the worry that he would lose the friendship they had. So, he continued to be the ever-present friend, always there when Zoe needed him, but never crossing that line.

After college, their lives took them in different directions. Andrew moved to a different city for his job, while Zoe traveled, exploring the world and living out the adventures she had always talked about. Despite the distance, Andrew made an effort to keep in touch, calling, texting, and even visiting when he could. But as time went on, he began to notice a pattern. Zoe’s responses became shorter, her calls less frequent, and her interest in his life seemingly waned.

It was during one of his visits back to their college town, a planned meet-up with Zoe, that Andrew faced the painful truth. After waiting for hours at the café they had agreed upon, Zoe never showed. No call, no message, nothing. It was then that Andrew realized he had been holding onto a friendship that perhaps meant more to him than it ever did to Zoe.

The journey back home was a long one, filled with reflection and a deep sense of loss. Andrew couldn’t help but feel foolish for all the time he had invested in someone who clearly didn’t value it as he did. It was a painful lesson, but one that brought with it a certain clarity. Andrew began to understand the importance of valuing his own time and the necessity of spending it with people who appreciated it just as much.

The story of Andrew and Zoe didn’t have a happy ending, but not all stories do. Sometimes, the endings are there to teach us lessons, to help us grow and to remind us that the most important person we can spend our time on is ourselves.