What, How, and for How long?

What can you do when someone you love very much and have known forever starts to feel so distant and different? How can you show them that love when you are starting to realize that this person may not be the same person you've known forever and you don't feel you're able to support them to the extent that they need to be supported? How long do you sit by patiently and wait for them to figure out who they really are and realize what they're doing?

The only answer I can come up with is this: You be there, you love them, and you wait for as long as it takes. If you really do love them that much, you will always love them so how could you not wait? How could you not help?

All you can really do is be patient and try your best to be supportive without being hurt when they don't listen. The other thing you can do is to let go, not of the love, but of the need to help them be more like you. Maybe this person isn't like you, maybe they don't want to be like you. You just love them for who they are and who they want to become.