At a Glance
- The piece is a personal letter about a friend’s upcoming wedding.
- It discusses past concerns over the friend’s boyfriend and the friend’s current engagement.
- The author shares her own thoughts on how to respond.
Why it matters: The letter offers a candid look at how people navigate personal relationships and the responsibilities of close friends.
The article begins with a letter addressed to a friend who is turning 30 and who has just announced an engagement. The writer explains that she and the friend have known each other since seventh grade, attended Texas Christian University together, and both settled in Austin, Texas. The writer’s main concern is how to react to the friend’s announcement of her fiancé’s engagement and her request to serve as Maid of Honor (MOH).
Letter Content
The writer recounts several key points:
- She and her friend have been in contact since they were in high school.
- The writer learned that the friend’s boyfriend had been disrespectful, sometimes mean, and had called her names.
- She had heard the boyfriend cussing at the friend over the phone.
- The writer had visited the boyfriend and found him “even worse than she had imagined.”
- Despite the boyfriend’s behavior, the friend had been with him for three years and was planning to leave him.
- The friend recently told the writer that she is engaged and wants her to be her Maid of Honor.
The writer expresses uncertainty about how to respond. She questions whether she should speak out, given the potential impact on her friendship and the friend’s future. She concludes that speaking out “out of love and compassion” may be the best course, but she also recognizes the risk of adding negative remarks to a wedding speech.
Background of the Journalist
The article is written by Julia N. Fairmont, who grew up in Dallas, attended the University of Texas, and moved to Austin as soon as possible. She started at News Of Austin as a proofreader in 2015 and became an events listings editor in 2020, covering community events, film screenings, summer camps, sports, and more. The background information provides context for the writer’s perspective and the publication’s editorial focus.
Publication Note
This piece was published on January 23, 2026. A note to readers reads:
> “Bold and uncensored, News Of Austin has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10, or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.”
The note emphasizes the publication’s long history and its commitment to independent reporting, while encouraging readers to support the newsroom financially.
Key Takeaways
- The letter highlights the tension between friendship loyalty and concern for a friend’s well-being.
- It raises the question of whether a close friend should intervene when a partner’s behavior is questionable.
- The article showcases the writer’s personal reflection and the broader context of the publication’s mission to provide independent news.
By sharing her personal experience, the writer invites readers to consider how they would act in a similar situation and reminds them of the importance of supporting independent journalism in Austin.
