Oh no, missing friends is definitely hard, but it really feels natural that the drift happens at the time. Sounds like there is a lot more to this story....
But are you coloring parts of this story from hindsight, or was it really that the warning signs were plain as day from the beginning?
I totally agree, Eon. The drift must happen, gradually. I was too young.
Yes, this story is set more than 30 years ago so I've no doubt there's been a bit of colouring-in. The signs were there, in hindsight, but more subtle, over months and years -- incremental. I had to condense it or risk blathering on for thousands of words. You know what I'm like lol :D