Here`s another thought I had. When people go online they often use others to fill a void in their life. When things are going wrong they are in the house sulking and they are online. When everything is better they are out and about, not online. It`s human nature to fill our own voids with what ever works and online is a way to do that. I`m not saying your friend is not a true friend but this is simply my perspective on general online friendships. Being that I have had contact with tons of people online (only 4 I`ve considered friends and 1 who`s still a dear friend) since I was a teenager and I stopped online chatting in my early 20s. It all seems very phony because after a while it became obvious who the people were that were using me. Pretty much everyone (all men) except one friend whom I`ve known for 11 years. He is a true friend but he has gone through the ringer in his life, yet went above and beyond the call of duty when he had supported and encouraged me through a tough, emotionally abusive relationship when I was 20 and he also takes care of his parents financially, helping his care for his mother and has put his sister through college, 12 hour work days and still keeps going. He still messages me a few times a year which is great and I treasure that. But I know what he is going through with his work obligations and helping his father take care of his MI mother. She has been getting worse over the last couple years and in the hospital alot too. But I wouldn`t question for a second why he isn`t contacting me. He had been a loyal friend and proved it a million times. So with good friends we must treasure the good times even if those times are rare now.