to not see my friend before she leaves for a year?

[FlutteringButterflie]

I have a friend who I have known for a long time however we have only just become closer since April because we have a very good mutual friend - so have been out as a group.

Mutual friend said x is having a few drinks at her place on Monday evening and I should come, I said maybe but as I wasn't invited by her myself I wasn't sure if I would definitely be coming.

Text x and said hey mutual friend has invited to yours on Monday, just wanted to quickly come up and see you before you leave if you're still having drinks.

She's read the message (can tell as I sent it on whatsapp) and she's never replied.

If she doesn't reply should I just not go? I'd be sad not to see her as she is potentially going to be away for a year but would be rude of me to just turn up?

Hmm... Tricky. I probably wouldn't go. When does she leave? Can you arrange to see her one on one sometime? Ask to meet for coffee because you want to give her a good luck card or something?

She's probably busy, but I would say go up even if you're not invited, maybe she thinks you don't need an invite?

If you're 'intruding' (unlikely) then it won't matter, she's going away

Try not to overthink it.

I am guilty of reading messages and thinking "I'll reply in a min when I've finished dinner/ironing etc" and the message completely falling out of my brain for a week.

Tbf, if she's leaving for a year she is probably hugely busy and I would nip to hers with a card on Monday eve, with no expectation of being invited in, but no other plans just in case iyswim.

It might be easier to ring her and wish her a good year away.
If she wants to invite you, she would then.

Messages can be tricky because they might not be delivered. Do you get message receipts?

No way would I go, she hasn't invited you and when you text to invite yourself she didn't reply.

Don't just turn up, even if it is to hand over a card-she'll feel obliged to ask you in and you will look like you're expecting to come in (if she hasn't asked you). Can you drop a card over tonight or in the morning, through her letter box. So if she sees it and it is a case of 'oh shit, I forgot to reply!' she'll text you right away. And if it's just a very intimate gathering then you'll know.

Lweji Watsapp shows delivery. 2 ticks = delivered 1-= pending. Though OP to be fair, my friend is shit at working watsapp and still can't get pop ups so she'll often show delivery but she won't have seen.

I am horrendous at replying to messages, mostly because I hate texting, and it always takes me ages to reply. I'd just go along, if you feel there's an atmosphere then you can just leave, and you won't have to see her for a year!