It’s entirely possible that other people in your work have noticed the gradual distancing between you and your friend but this is no reason for you to feel paranoid. Rather than a dramatic fallout, you describe a natural drift that occurred over time without spite. You are probably wondering how it has come to this – one minute you’re celebrating your birthday together and blending your work colleague with other friends, the next you’re potentially barely speaking to each other.

I have seen similar scenarios between colleagues who became friends, then reverted to ‘just good colleagues’. Sometimes there was anger and accusations of sorts but mainly the relationships petered out with little recrimination on either side. What you describe is the natural rhythm of a normal working life. Starting a new job can be a thrilling experience where adrenaline and emotion run high. It’s akin to those heady first days at sixth form or university where everyone is so determined to find their feet that bonding with others can happen in a heartbeat. Some of my own best friends to this day are those I met on my first day of college but that now seems very lucky. There’s something about embracing a new experience with an open heart and mind that lies at the heart of these friendships.

However, the seductive lure of sharing a new adventure can potentially result in forging a bond that is only ever meant to be transient. Relationships such as these are a means of marking that moment in time but there’s no rule that states they have to last a lifetime.

Honest Boss: “My workplace friendship has ended – how do I stop it getting awkward?”