It wasn't until much later that I discovered why. My friend had started to hang out with this new group because they were more "popular" and "cool," and my friend felt like they could gain social status by associating with them. I was devastated when I found out, feeling like our childhood friendship meant nothing to them.
Shifting the focus from the "hero" to the "observer" or the "victim" changes the emotional weight of the betrayal. Explore Inevitability: summer memories ~my cucked childhood friends~ another story