Introvert struggles to balance friendship and personality

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend recently told me that she thinks we shouldn’t be friends anymore because I am so closed off. This has hurt me because I value our friendship, but I also understand where she is coming from. I am naturally introverted, and I tend to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself. It’s not that I don’t care about her or our friendship; it’s just that expressing myself openly is challenging for me. I often find social interactions draining, and I need a lot of alone time to recharge. This can make me appear distant or uninterested, but that’s not the case at all. I care deeply about my friend and our relationship, and it hurts me to think that my introverted nature is driving a wedge between us. I don’t want to lose her as a friend, but I also don’t know how to change this aspect of who I am.