well, let's look at this 2 different ways...

First, you could just keep your walls up and push her away, never knowing what could be...

or you could give her a chance, still keeping your guard up for a while, and give her a chance to show you that she has changed.

I think we have all made mistakes in our lives, and we all deserve second chances.

I like what you and your therapist brought up with the "illusion" of perfect friendship. Perhaps not expecting so much from someone and yourself will help your friendship be more realistic and still beneficial.

I'm proud of you for calling her - what a big step!! I think that speaks so much about how you really feel about her. I think it's natural for you to put walls up, but you called her when you needed someone, and I think that demonstrates how much you'd like to have her in your life.

I hope things work out - having a good friend is a fantastic gift...and this is someone who apologized for what she did - so she sees the wrong in it. If she did not see what she did wrong, then I would say to beware, but I believe she's truly sorry, and she demonstrated that by being there for you when you called her.

I believe, my dear, that could be the start of a beautiful friendship...*hahah*