I actually wrote something similar on here a while back about feeling like I wanted to give up on developing friendships, like you I had ghosting and with no apparent reason by someone I was fond of - I still don’t know why.

Sometimes taking the pressure off can help, in my case having some alone time, keeping social through acquaintances and activities.

I think close friendships, true ones are rare, it takes time to find those gems, if you do then treasure them, that’s my philosophy anyway.

You’ve done the right thing for your self esteem walking away from fake friends.