You've got an intriguing piece here @samminator. First, for me, I dont think the whole thing with the lady is just the I don't have friends thing. More lies in, like you said, in the fact that retaining those who may have come her way. In this life, no one can do anything alone even if you are the US president. You need alliances, connections basically helps in certain areas of your life.
And moreover, friendship or anything relationship should be a two-way (symbiotic) thing and not parasitic.
I hope I have not entangled this too mich with biology.😃