We all put on a bit of a social "mask" in mixed company; it's a necessary part of life. It takes time to get the balance right, to figure out how much vulnerability is right for us to show so that people feel trusted and engaged with us, while also protecting ourselves to needed inner satisfaction.

Sometimes I think of there being a pendulum swinging in life, that we have to go with, catch its rhythm, til it eventually starts to even out to a calm.. but that along the way can definitely seem like a lot of nutty back and forth. It might still take a few bigger swings of this pendulum until you get a feeling of better balance around this, but you're looking at it right now, a powerful moment for you.

And in truth, your friend wouldn't have said something so dramatic if they were ambivalent about you.. sounds to me like there is room for growth there too.