Just ended my longest friendship

[MasterOfPuppets]

So... I haven't been here for like... four months? I could use your advice, guys. I feel pretty bad.
The thing is, I think I just said goodbye to my best friend, and I'm confused in a way. I don't even know if I feel sad or relieved.
I think I was afraid of losing any of my friends because I surrounded myself with 5 people that are like family to me. I was never the one to hang out with 20 people simply because I never enjoyed it. I loved having my group and considered us to be way stronger than we actually were.
For years, one of my best friends kept dissapointing me and making me feel bad about myself (though I would never let myself show it), while I always tried to make him feel as confident as it gets and to help him with his problems and insecurities.
A month ago or so, he let me down pretty bad about something that was really important to me, and I drew the line there. I guess I knew it was over at that point, but today, we talked again and texted again, and for a second I thought we might just figure things out. But then, he refused to apologize, making me feel bad about myself one last time. I wrote him the most sincere and friendly message I could, saying that we changed and went on different paths and stuff, and said that from now on I can't be his friend anymore.
We had some really good moments and some good memories, but I feel like this is where it ends. I feel so bad for trowing away those years of friendship, but I also feel like it was stopping me from being at my best.
People always say I'm too proud and stubborn. I'm sure that sometimes it's not easy to handle me, but I cherish my dignity and I find my pride to be one of the most valuable things about me.
So, I could use your opinion. Simple "You were right" will help I guess, though feel free to go hard on me if you think I'm wrong, I can totally take it.

[Microcosm]

Once a friendship becomes a negative influence on your life, that's when it is proper to end it. Such is my opinion. Ending parasitic friendships can actually really help. It's like being relieved from having all that negativity. I've had to end some here and there in the past and it has helped me greatly. I think you did the right thing. If you are sure that he was a parasitic or acidic friend, then you absolutely did the right thing. Even if he has been your friend for a while, you have to think of the present and the future. People do change and it looks like this guy has changed. Therefore, it is proper in my opinion to give him a sort of "honorable discharge" to being your friend. That's what I would do, and I do think you did the right thing.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Thank you for your answer, it's really helpful. :)

[WanderingHeart]

And remember that friends come and go. You might not stay with that person forever, but you'll always meet new people.

[ImCoolBeans]

I'm sorry that your friendship ended -- it's always difficult -- especially if you were that close with the person. Like Dan said, if you were only feeling bad in the friendship and it wasn't a positive figure in your life, then you likely did the right thing. You have to do what's best for you, even if it hurts in the meantime, it will benefit you later on.

I had to say goodbye to my best friend toward the beginning of high school. He was similar to yours, he always made me feel really bad about myself, and would always take jokes way too far and just intentionally be mean. After a while of that I got sick of it and did the same thing -- I told him that we were growing apart and as much as it sucked that we weren't really as close as we used to be. After that we just kind of stopped hanging out. I did miss my friend, he was my best friend after all, but I became much happier eventually and didn't feel like I was going to get attacked and picked on all of the time.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Thank you all so much, you guys really helped me. Your advice made me to see the whole thing clearly.
I'm glad I posted this thread. :)