You may never know who your true friends are until life throws you an unwelcome curveball. When this happens and the friends or family you thought would help carry you through don't, you go through grief.From my experience, the people who DO step forward to be by your side are your "true friends" and those friends that you imagined would come to your aid but didn't are your "lifestyle friends". They were friends with you for your lifestyle and really enjoyed your company. They were never your friends to begin with.