In a short time after the inauguration, I lost my best friend over who I voted for. Mind you, this is not just any friend. This is someone I've known since we were 12, someone I've spent weekends camping with, celebrated birthdays and holidays together, girl's nights, offered one another a shoulder to cry on, etc. We were very close.

I want to make amends with her now that it seems like the hysteria is dying down and see if she is still feeling raw about the situation, but I'm not sure how to go about doing this without upsetting her more. I really do not wish to explain to her my political views. It's quite frankly none of her business and it's not her right to know. What I am hoping to say is yes, we have differences in political views, but it shouldn't stop us from remaining friends because I care a lot about you, and I've enjoyed the times we've had together, and because we share many of the same friends, I don't want to us to feel awkward or inclined to give each other the silent treatment when all our friends want to hang out together, and I hope we can make up and still remain friends.

I miss my friend and I'd like to reach out to her, because she is a good person with a big heart and sensitive like me, and I'm sure she feels bad about the situation too. What do I say?