I signed up to runescape about 10 years ago, I don't play any more, but I would now be eligible for the cape.
I was about 11 irl when I started. One day I was in sears villige. This level 6 noob comes up to me, asks me to spin his flax for him, telling me his account had been hacked. I thought why not, so I basically swapped my bowstrings for his flax and carried on spinning. Added him as a friend.
This became a regular thing, I became good friends with this guy John. Used to talk to him every day. He was my age irl too. After a few months we added each other on MSN, "back in the day".
One day he introduced Ellen to a group conversation. I introduced my Friend Stephen. Them two started getting sexual and flirting alot. We were all about 13/14 at the time.
Anyway, I added Ellen as a friend. We would talk a lot. She opened up to me. She was suicidal, had depression, as was I. We helped each other through it. She got help but she could always talk to me, I was always there for her. I told her my deepest secrets and stuff that I could never tell anyone, and so did she.
We're not romantic friends as such but we have been there for each other and I'm really grateful to have her there. I will always reserve a certain "love" and trust for her. She gave me her phone number, we will sometimes speak on the phone.
I have her on facebook, and I still have her number, but I don't call her any more. Sometimes I'll message her happy christmas or birthday or whatever but that's about it. The last time I did I phoned her was about a year ago when I got bullied at work by my manager and broke down in tears just out of shock of the ceo calling me a cunt to my face.
I knew she was there and I could talk to her. I didn't want to bother any one else that I knew "in real life".
She's a great friend. The only reason I met her is because of John.
Neither of us have a clue where John is nowadays. Stephen spent a shit load of money on drugs and had to get clean.
Me and Ellen found as well we only live about 2-3 hours apart by public transport, we both regularly go to the city. We're both in relationships right now but maybe one day we will meet up platonically if we're both around - I can't help but think it would be strange to meet her in real life.