Get Back in Touch With a Friend You've Drifted Away From

There's someone I've lost touch with and I'd really like to reconnect, but I don't know what to say after all this time. Here are the details:

Who they are: [e.g. my best friend from uni, a close colleague from my old job, a mate from school I used to see every week, my cousin who I was really close to, a friend from my NCT group]

How we lost touch: [e.g. one of us moved away and we just stopped texting, we both got busy with kids and it fizzled out, there was no falling-out — life just got in the way, we had a minor disagreement and neither of us reached out after, I went through a rough patch and withdrew from everyone]

How long it's been: [e.g. about six months, over a year, honestly it's been three or four years, I'm not even sure]

How I feel about reaching out: [e.g. guilty that I left it so long, worried they'll think it's weird, scared they won't reply, embarrassed, hopeful but nervous]

What I'd like to happen: [e.g. just a casual catch-up over coffee, I want them back in my life properly, I'd be happy with even a text conversation, I want to say sorry for disappearing]

How we used to communicate: [e.g. WhatsApp, text, we always talked in person, Instagram DMs, email]

Please give me:

1. A ready-to-send message that feels natural and warm — not too formal, not too gushing. It should acknowledge the time that's passed without making a big deal of it, mention something specific that made me think of them (suggest a few options I can pick from), and make it easy for them to reply without pressure.

2. A shorter, more casual alternative — just a few lines, in case the longer version feels like too much

3. What NOT to say — the common mistakes people make when reaching out after a long gap (like over-apologising, guilt-tripping, or pretending no time has passed)

4. A realistic heads-up on how they might respond — including what to do if they're slow to reply or seem a bit distant at first (because that doesn't necessarily mean they're not pleased to hear from you)

5. If I mentioned a disagreement or something awkward in how we lost touch, include a gentle way to address it without making the whole message about it

Keep the tone warm, honest, and a little bit vulnerable — like a real person who genuinely misses someone, not a template. Use British English throughout. Write it the way someone would actually message a mate, not the way you'd write a letter.