I grew apart with a friend who started spouting incel rhetoric. His last straw was hitting on the waitress during my birthday dinner despite people telling him how uncomfortable it made everyone involved.

We barely talked for about two years. When we got back together he had become a environmental activist, started dating a non-binary person and was taking DBT therapy to help with his emotional issues. I’d started therapy as well, which helped me get over some of my own shit and forgive him for falling down the dumbass rabbit hole.

We’ve been friends for fifteen years now and he’s on of my favorite people.