u/GreenOrange8851

I (28M) have been with my girlfriend "Emily" (26F) for two years. We live together and things have been mostly great. But there's one issue that keeps coming up: my best friend "Sarah" (27F).

Sarah and I have known each other since college. We've been close friends for almost ten years. She's like a sister to me. We talk regularly, grab coffee sometimes, and she comes over to hang out with me and our mutual friends. She's also friends with Emily, or at least she used to be.

A few months ago, Emily told me she's uncomfortable with how close Sarah and I are. She said we text too much, we have "inside jokes" that exclude her, and she feels like a third wheel when the three of us hang out. I told her I understood and I'd try to make more of an effort to include her.

But it wasn't enough. Last week, Emily gave me an ultimatum. She said I need to cut Sarah off completely—no texting, no hanging out, nothing. She said she can't be in a relationship where she feels like she's competing with another woman for my attention.

I was shocked. I told her Sarah is my friend, nothing more. I've never cheated, I've never given her any reason to doubt me. I said I'm happy to set boundaries, like not hanging out one-on-one late at night or reducing the frequency of our texts. But I'm not going to throw away a ten-year friendship because of jealousy.

Emily got really upset. She said if I truly loved her, I'd prioritize her feelings over my friend's. She said I'm choosing Sarah over her and that proves her point. She gave me an ultimatum: Sarah or her.

I told her I'm not going to be in a relationship where I'm forced to cut off people I care about. I love Emily, but this feels controlling and unfair. She packed a bag and went to stay with her sister. Now she's texting me saying I'm "emotionally cheating" and I'm "gaslighting" her.

My mom says I should just end the friendship because "girlfriends come first." My sister says Emily is being unreasonable and I'm right to stand my ground.

I feel torn because I love Emily and I don't want to lose her. But I also feel like if I give in to this, it sets a dangerous precedent.

AITA?