People leave for different reasons. I've had a friend 8 years now who has cancer and the last few times I've seen her she's gone completely ballistic to me. This entire summer I've had to deal with my cat dying and own medical problems and all the drama of her life. The last time I saw her she said she no longer wanted me as a friend and kicked me out of her house in the middle of the night. I could have gotten into a good car accident that night.

Sometimes we leave because we are tired of the abuse of someone else. I have left this friend because of her immaturity.

Life goes on you know? True friends are always there in your hard times. I just hope life gets better for you.

Sorry for your loss.

People who are grieving are a lot of work. We tire those who love us. They never know when they arrive if this is a good day or a bad day. They want to be with you but to enjoy your company. Just like dealing with someone who has a long term illness or a child who is getting their sea legs, we require a lot of effort and we are high maintenance. A true friend holds on and goes through it with you, but sometimes they retreat to be with those who are more in tune with their needs. It is human nature.

I agree with Intoodeep. People shy away from us. They often tire of hearing anything about what we are going through. It's really not their fault, it society. Society in general does not know how to deal with a grieving person. They often don't 'get it' because they havent' been through it. One day they too will learn what we have all learned, grieve is hard work.
I try so hard not to show any outward signs of grieving, I tend to hold it inside, so people don't avoid me. I have a few close friends that will listen to me when I need to talk, but most people avoid the subject all together. It's just the way it is.
Too add to that, my grieve is complicated since my sister was murdered. Most people have never experienced what I have, hence they are afraid to hear it. To listen to it. so I found a support group, i let it all out there and it helps.
People don't know that everyday I wake up thinking about her and how she died. Everyday the thought of the approaching trail is heavy on my mind. I mask it, i put a fake smile on my face and I go to work and make it through each day somehow. I come home and write. I come home and love the time alone.
I come here and write, because people here understand our need to talk about things. People here understand, they get it. Often in society we as grieving people feel like the outcast, I know I have felt it. Oh sure, people ask questions about the murderer, when the trial is etc, but they seldom ask how I'm doing because they don't want to hear and they dont know what to say or do, it frightens them in a sense. Just they way I see it.

Yes I am experiencing the same problem. Every time I begin to open up towards someone new they back off, then leave. I think we must give off a kind of "keep off the grass" type vibe. We don't mean to but no one can replace what we have lost and so sometimes they just can't be bothered.