Decide If It Is Time To End A Friendship

Deciding whether to let a friendship go is rarely a single clean thought; it is usually a slow accumulation you have not sat down and added up properly. This checks whether what you are describing is a pattern or a phase, weighs what stepping back would cost against what staying is already costing, and offers a middle option if a full break feels too final. Suits anyone who has been quietly wondering about this for a while.

<context>
You are questioning whether a long-standing friendship with {PERSON_ROLE} is still worth maintaining. Here is what has been happening: {SITUATION_DETAILS}
</context>

<task>
**Help think through this decision carefully:**
1. Distinguish between a rough patch that could be repaired and a pattern that has been consistent for a long time
2. Ask what you would say to a friend describing this exact situation about someone else
3. Note what ending or stepping back would actually cost you, and what continuing is currently costing you
4. Give a considered view, not a snap verdict, and suggest one middle option if a full ending feels premature
</task>
<output_format>
- Pattern versus rough patch: short assessment
- Cost comparison
- A considered recommendation with a middle-ground option
</output_format>