Great friends are hard to come by, and even when there's a gap, if the bond is still there, it's really hard to break. If it's happened before, I wouldn't worry. If she didn't give any indication that she was mad at you for some reason, then maybe it's just something she couldn't control either. If you have her phone number, maybe you should try calling her? Or if she has a phone there are ways to send short emails to cell phones like text messages. My best friend and I do that, when we can't talk. Most of the time we're playing phone tag anyway. And if long distance is an issue, sometimes it's better to have the charge on your bill and the peace of mind knowing what's going on in her life. I wish you the best, and hope that you and your friend get back in contact with eachother again.

I've lost a lot of people over the years. I distanced myself from my best friend over pathetic middle school drama and haven't spoken to her since we were 14 and lost the subsequent best friend in a similar fashion. Unfortunately, I still see some of their friends/relatives aroiund town and I know both are getting married and one just gave birth. I feel bad about not being able to be a part of that. Looking back, in both of those situations they were being incredibly immature but immaturity is what 12-17 year olds do and chances are really good if I hadn't decided to just give up on them everything would have been fine.

Definitely contact them, if you can.

There are lots of circumstances that can lead up to disappearances like this, so don't give up hope yet.

I've actually been the one to vanish from the face of the internet on several occasions, and I always feel horrible whenever it happens. At the beginning of August, I hurt my hand, and I was unable to type again for quite a while. I felt guilty that I wasn't able to tell my friends what had happened to me.

If possible, try to contact her, and watch out for any means that she might be using to contact you.

I've lost loved one suddenly, a cousin. When he left for Afganistan, he said to me, "My mom & sister think I'm not going to come back." I said, "Jimmy! You know how dramatic this family can be, hahaha, don't be nervous at all, of course you're coming back. They spaz about everything, but we've got plans, you're gonna go save the world when you get back, I'll be right there with you!" (insert knife to heart here) Cause, of course, he died...on his FLIGHT HOME! Damn!

Losing a person suddenly, when you thought you'd have your whole life to run around together, harsh. Not much to do, but get a tattoo. Or, use their memory as a guiding light to measure your own actions.

Lost a dog, my miniature collie. Christmas present when I was 6 years old, died when I was 23. I still wake up in the morning, gently stepping off the bed so I won't accidentally step on her. I don't close doors quickly, behind me, so she isn't caught on the other side. And, I certainly don't love any other dogs. I have a cat now. I do love the cat, but it isn't the same.

Real friends separating, I have a best friend who we're in the process of drifting apart. She made a big mistake that I paid for, and probably her guilt has driven her away, even though I've gone out of my way to say there's no hard feelings. That's tough too. Usually same old face you turn to and laugh, when something funny appears, now there are a sea of faces that laugh along, but they aren't quite the one you need. The same old person, with the same old problems, always calling all the time...but you were happy to pick up the phone, now though, new callers, new problems, thank god for caller ID.

Yeah, losing close people is the worst. It's difficult to make new ones, so I'd echo all the other people who advised to try any means necessary to find your missing friend and keep in touch. If it is an internet friend... well, once you find them again, get a physical address so you will have an easier time staying in contact.

It happens. /:

The best a person can do is try and pervent it and hope the other half will do the same. I've often had phases when I just stopped going to the Internet for months. The worst thing about it is the longer I'm absent, the less guilty I feel for leaving close friends behind. But I never change my e-mails or online alias' (one of the reasons why I still keep my n00bie alias 'mewTara'), so that people would always have a place where they could find me. Plus, I exchange my mobile phone number and adress with my closest, so I'd be able to keep in touch even when our paths lead us away from the Internet world.

I've had a offline friend that could qualify as a beta version of a best friend. She came to Croatia with her family and everything was fine and dandy until she moved away to Bali. She left me her mobile phone number and e-mail, but it didn't help. Once she leaves the country, she can't keep the same mobile phone number and the e-mail she gave me stopped existing due to inactivity. A year and a half passes and I get a SMS, from her. Aparently, she ran into a mutual friend on the street that gave her my phone number again (which remained the same up to now). We hanged out, just like old times, until her phone number stopped existing again. She travels a lot with her family and there is no telling if she still keeps my phone number around, but I won't change it, as long as there is a possibility that she will contact me. Even if I never hear from her again, I won't be sad, because the memory she left me with will always stay in my heart.

's 'bout it. Hope your story ends on a happier note. Good luck!

So long as you do all you can to contact this person, rest assured you're doing all you can. Trite as that sounds. It's the problem with having friends you only have online; you seldom have mutual friends with phone numbers or physical access to check up on somebody.

Where does this person live?