One-sided friendship but I miss how it used to be

I have been having daily contact with this friend; let’s call him Dave. Dave and I have known each other for two years now, but we started talking daily about a half year ago. It started out with lots of humor and laughter. We both shared some vulnerable things about our past. Now Dave seems to think that sharing such stuff makes for a good bonding experience. I told him I don’t feel this is a good foundation for a friendship. I have asked him several times to ask me about mundane things like my day, because that makes me feel seen. He, however, seems incapable to ask questions. He makes assumptions and is convinced he is right even though he only is in about 40%. I don’t feel the need to explain when someone makes an assumption about me that are wrong, because that is their business. Also it isnt really bothering me that much anymore, since I came to expect this of Dave and decided to let it go. I find it endearing in some of the cases and just role my eyes in those other cases.
Recently my mental health has taken a fall. I told Dave this (which took some time to actively push through the string of assumptions of Dave, which where in fact incorrect) and told that if he needed to distance himself to protect his own mental health, i wouldnt blame him. He said he would stay. 
However, frequency of contact has been going down. It seems we are out of topics to talk about. Before all this I would mostly just listen to Dave, ask lots of questions and make jokes. I havent really been having the energy to do so anymore and also need a friend to share some of the stuff I have been going through lately. But everytime I share something the answers are incredibly short and no questions. I have accepted this for who he is, but it feels like this friendship doesn’t fit in what i need right now. I, however, really miss how things were before all this. Is that a weird thing to say? I know this friendship sounds one-sided and it probably is, to some extend, but I still miss how the contact used to be. What should I do? Talk about it, let it go, try to put more energy in this contact like I used to?

Posted Aug 14, 2026, 5:51 AM UTC

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