Real friends remain "real" even when y'all fall out- they still remain apart of you. You still find yourself saying _____ would've loved this, or ______ always talked about when I would finally do that. Life reminds you, and you suddenly feel different. That's called growth.
Everyday we must tell ourselves that we will not be influenced by what society deems to be a normality if it goes against our own personal morals and values.