Friendship is supposed to involve a certain level of consideration. Most people don’t expect special treatment from their friends, but they do hope for basic respect and understanding.
One 20-year-old man recently found himself questioning whether he’s asking for too much after becoming increasingly frustrated with two close friends who seem unwilling to make even the smallest accommodations for his disability.
Now he’s wondering if it’s time to stop doing favors for people who don’t appear willing to return the courtesy.
A Friendship Built on Convenience?
The young man explained that he has two close friends, whom he referred to as Vincent and Nicole.
In many ways, he enjoys their company. They spend time together regularly, share common interests, and generally get along well.
But one recurring issue has slowly become impossible to ignore.
The problem isn’t an argument, a betrayal, or some major falling out.
It’s walking.
Due to a physical disability that affects his legs, walking can be painful and difficult. He explained that his legs are deformed, and while he’s currently waiting to receive crutches that will provide better support, he’s still relying on moving slowly and carefully to avoid pain or falling.
A wheelchair isn’t always practical because many places remain difficult to navigate, so for now he does his best to get around on foot.
The problem is that his friends seem completely unwilling to adjust.
Always Left Behind
According to him, Vincent and Nicole naturally walk much faster than he does.
That alone wouldn’t necessarily be an issue.
What bothers him is that they never seem willing to slow down.
Whenever the group leaves a building, heads into a store, or walks through a parking lot, the pair routinely move far ahead, leaving him and his boyfriend trailing behind.
His boyfriend has repeatedly pointed out how inconsiderate the behavior is.
More than once, he’s asked them to wait up.
Their response is always the same.
They claim they simply walk fast by nature and can’t help it.
For the young man, that explanation feels increasingly hollow.
After all, they’re fully capable of slowing down when they want to.
They just don’t seem interested in doing it for him.
The Ride Situation Makes It Worse
Normally, the situation might be annoying but manageable.
What makes it especially frustrating is that he’s the one providing transportation.
Vincent technically owns a car, but it’s in such poor condition that it can only be used when absolutely necessary. Nicole doesn’t have a driver’s license at all.
As a result, he’s the one driving everyone nearly everywhere they go.
Yet despite depending on him for transportation, his friends continue treating him like an afterthought the moment they get out of the vehicle.
They often rush ahead toward destinations while he struggles to keep pace.
Then, when they arrive at the car before him, they become annoyed that the doors aren’t unlocked yet.
In stores, they’ll wander off on their own, leaving him and his boyfriend behind.
Later, they’ll complain when the couple isn’t immediately available when it’s time to leave.
The contradiction hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“They can’t leave without me,” he explained, “but they still act annoyed that I’m not moving faster.”
Complaining About Accommodations
If being left behind wasn’t enough, another issue has started bothering him.
His friends frequently complain when he wants to bring his wheelchair somewhere.
Rather than viewing mobility aids as necessary accommodations, they often treat them as inconveniences.
Those reactions have left him feeling increasingly unsupported.
He’s not asking his friends to carry him.
He’s not asking them to stop what they’re doing.
He’s simply asking them to recognize that moving around is harder for him and to show a little patience.
Instead, he often feels like his disability is something they tolerate rather than understand.
New Crutches, New Problems
The situation may become even more challenging soon.
His crutches are expected to arrive next week, and while he’s optimistic they’ll help in the long run, he knows there will be an adjustment period.
Learning to use them properly will likely make him even slower for a while.
Because of that, he’s already anticipating more impatience and more complaints from Vincent and Nicole.
He’s tried explaining how much their behavior bothers him.
He’s told them directly that it hurts when they rely on him for rides but refuse to make simple accommodations in return.
Unfortunately, those conversations don’t seem to have changed anything.
Is It Time to Stop Driving Them?
After months of frustration, he’s started considering something he never thought he’d have to.
What if he simply stopped giving them rides?
Part of him feels guilty about the idea.
If he refuses to drive, Vincent would likely have to rely on his unreliable vehicle, and Nicole would have to find other transportation altogether.
He genuinely cares about both of them and doesn’t want anyone getting stranded or hurt.
But another part of him wonders why he’s working so hard to support people who don’t seem willing to support him.
Driving them everywhere takes time, gas, and effort.
The least they could do is walk beside him.
Check out how the community responded:
Many people argued that the issue wasn’t really about walking speed at all.
Numerous readers pointed out that when someone cares about a friend, slowing down for them isn’t a burden.
Several commenters noted that his boyfriend’s behavior demonstrated what genuine friendship and support actually look like.
The young man has spent months accommodating his friends’ needs by driving them wherever they need to go.
Now he’s questioning whether it’s unreasonable to expect a small amount of consideration in return.
And judging by the overwhelming reaction from readers, most people believe the answer is simple.
Waiting a few extra seconds for a friend isn’t a hardship.
Treating someone with dignity shouldn’t require a reminder.
And if someone consistently refuses to do either, they may not be the friend you thought they were.
