A close friend broke a very big promise to me, knowing just how upset it would make me. She did so because she has been having a hard time lately and decided that it would be the best thing for her to back out, which I completely understand. However, given the nature of the promise she broke, her actions also amount to a personal insult and a logistical mess that I may have to deal with continually for a year or more. She claims that I am still a very important friend to her. I thought friends were supposed to have an altruistic interest in each other's well-being, or at least a sense of obligation toward one another. While in the best case she'd have kept her promise out of inclination and not obligation, I wish she'd kept it for *whatever* reason. I don't know in what sense I can be a "very important friend" given her behavior. Is it possible that she is telling the truth? If so, how? What am I missing about what it means to be a friend?