Circles

I was speaking with a male co-worker friend at work today, when a female co-worker friend came over and joined us. She told him that she used to be in my inner circle of friends, but now she is just in one of my outer circles. The existence of these circles was news to me. I am always wanting meaningful relationships, and, whenever possible, close friendships. Later, that same male friend came up to me and said, "I don't know about the women who work here. You never know whether they are going to yell at you or hug you!"

Later in the day I spotted my female co-worker friend. I asked her what I had done to make her feel that way. She said she had only been joking. I pressed on, saying that I didn't think she would say that if she didn't mean it. Then she told me what had happened: she had overheard two other female co-workers saying how much they liked me, and they were two people with whom she was not close, so she felt I had moved on to another "circle" of friends. As for me, I am just glad to know that I have at least three female friends who like me.