Dear Mike Cares, how would you answer this Dear Abby?

DEAR ABBY: The last two years have been especially tough. I went through a breakup after a four-year relationship, my dog developed cancer and I had to put her to sleep, and I caught COVID and have been dealing with long-haul symptoms ever since. My energy is low because of it, plus I've been depressed with all the events that have happened.

I have two best friends I've known since I was 16. I'm 34 now. I thought they would be there for me through anything. We were close until recently. They no longer invite me to get-togethers, and they hang out and exclude me. I try to stay in contact, but when I talk with them, it doesn't progress from small talk. The few times I have seen them, I stayed positive and didn't discuss my problems.

They have children, and I'm single and childless, which may have caused the divide between us. Being excluded hurts. When I mention it, they say, "You don't have kids. I didn't think you'd want to come." It feels like a slap in the face. I need my friends more than ever right now because I feel very alone through one of the toughest times of my life. How do I mend these friendships? Am I unreasonable for being upset? -- DISAPPOINTED FRIEND IN VIRGINIA

DEAR DISAPPOINTED FRIEND IN VIRGINIA: You are being unreasonable if you think your friends really want to listen to you whine about your boyfriend fleeing the state rather than listen to your constant complaining or your dog pretending to have cancer just so someone would put him to sleep or the fact that you have Covid or hear about your low energy. Even Debbie Downer would roll her eyes at you. Just reading your letter makes me want to slap your face and tell you to snap out of it. Why don’t you try getting off your sofa, put down the gallon of ice cream and the white wine and hit the re-boot button on your life. If you are lucky enough to lose the “poor me” depression weight you packed on, you may snag a new man. Do him a favor and don’t bitch and whine about everything. Oh, and do us all a favor and don’t get yourself a new dog, cruelty to animals is just wrong.

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