I (19F) met "Alice" (21F) during my first year of university. We had a small friend group with another girl, "Mary" (19F), and we were pretty close. Mary and Alice got even closer since they lived near each other and went home together often.

Over time, though, Alice became overly possessive and jealous whenever Mary talked to other friends. I tried to mediate, but it escalated to the point where Mary told Alice that she wasn't her "husband or lover" to be acting that way. Things got tense, and eventually Mary dropped out due to some unrelatedreasons, leaving just Alice and me.

At first, I thought Mary may have overreacted. But once it was just the two of us, I started seeing the same patterns. Alice would cling to me physically even after I told her I didn’t like being touched. Every time I planned to go home early, she would almost beg me to stay, holding onto me. She would also blow up my phone if I went out with other friends, demanding to know where I was and who I was with — yet when we made plans, she'd often cancel last minute(which I think is out of fear of having to commute to my home alone, since she lives far from me).

She constantly apologized in a “pick me” way, saying she was "too meek," fishing for reassurance, and would do that a lot. Despite being older than me, she acted very childish and was almost helpless when alone. She avoided interacting with men and is very shy around them and was very insecure about her appearance, wearing a mask even when unnecessary, and I would always assure her that she is beautiful and doesn't need to hide her face, but nothing changes.

One day after an exam, I went out with a friend. Despite telling Alice earlier to head home after her exam (which ended 5 hours before mine), she stayed at uni waiting and kept calling and interrogating me about my whereabouts while I was with my friend. It made me realize how emotionally exhausting the friendship had become.

I remembered how Mary struggled with her too, and decided I couldn’t keep doing this. I spoke to Alice after exams, calmly laying out everything: her possessiveness, jealousy, childish behavior, and refusal to be independent. I wasn't rude, but I made it clear that I couldn’t continue being her emotional crutch. I even advised her to work on herself, not for me or any friend, but for her own future.

She asked for another chance, but I told her I didn’t trust that things would change. I wished her well, hugged her goodbye, and ended things respectfully.

Now, some of the people I told this to are divided — one cousin says I was too harsh, another says I did the right thing. We’re now just acquaintances; when we see each other at uni, we exchange polite greetings.

So, AITAH for ending the friendship the way I did?