I have heard your troubles with true concern, don't get me wrong. I have never told you what you wanted to hear, and this was appreciated by you. I have ranted about friendship and relationships many times and here's my newly added insight. In newly formed or slowly developing friendships the former friend-persona is more prominent that the latter in me. I'm willing to provide some time and emotion, with caution, while I have few expectations.
Feelings are still genuine.
And then the two personas merge into one. The day I'll get mad at you for not asking how my day was, or for not giving me enough attention, you'll know that you've got me. I feel I'm forgetting something. My body has been happy recently. I've even been sleeping better after turning in my paper.