It’s 10 p.m. on a Friday night. You have your best outfit on, your hair and makeup are flawless, and you’re waiting for your friend to arrive. Then you get the dreaded text. Your friend suddenly can’t make it, and you’re left sitting on your bed alone with no plans. What happens next is a series of stages, beginning with flat out denial and ending in passive acceptance.
1. Denial
At first, you are in a state of disbelief. “Haha, very funny” you respond as you start walking towards the door.
2. Anger
When they assure you that they are, in fact, serious, the anger sets in. “Are you kidding me? I got dressed for this! I did my hair! This was their idea in the first place,” you mutter to yourself before chucking your phone onto your bed.
3. Bargaining
After allowing yourself a few minutes to calm down, you begin the bargaining process. At this point you’ll say anything that will make them change their mind. You may even attempt to bribe them with food, money, gas, etc.
4. Depression
Following your many failed attempts to convince them, the depression hits. You wallow in shame as you watch all of your friends’ Snapchat stories, wishing you were having as much fun as they were.
5. Acceptance
Finally, you realize that your plans just aren’t going to happen. Accepting defeat, you change into your pajamas, pop a bag of popcorn and watch reruns of Friends until slipping into a peaceful slumber.