Is it normal if my gf of 5 years prefers her new best friend over me?

sounds like a lesbian question so i will let the hillary clintons of this world chime in.

I feel bad for you but you can't change her feelings. All you can do is become more valuable so she'll want you more

I hope more people respond because I'm working on this too

I can empathize I have been in a similar place and felt the same. And if ur like me you also would feel that it's wrong and you should let her enjoy this friendship and in fact enjoy that she is having a great time. I don't know the road from here to there, one thought I don't know if it's a good one but thinking out loud maybe reestablishing her place in your mind emphasizing the friendship aspect of your relationship with her even imagining she is a dude, that way emotionally you can not think twice about her enjoying friendship. It really comes down to that when she is away she can't fulfill the emotional needs you probably didn't even notice she was when around and you need to maintain that toolkit that you're at a baseline satisfaction like if u were single even, that way the relationship is all gravy, and you can relax and even enjoy her having many redeeming relationships not just the one with you. I know wayy easier said than done. Don't let these people get you down saying you're needy controlling insecure, that is not constructive even though of course they're right. But what you need is a toolkit to progress not feel bad about emotions that are currently out of your control

Like Tealights said: you sound very needy and jealous. I'd add insecure and controlling to that. Since you're now 27, it seems unlikely this is due to emotional immaturity, and rather it's just the sort of person you are.

Three or four texts a day wasn't enough to reassure you that she was thinking of you? Back when I was your age, international phone calls cost a fortune and long-distance relationships could survive on weekly letters and monthly phone calls if they were solid.

I suggest you take a good look at yourself and consider why this has upset you. Your girlfriend, reasonably enough, wanted a friend to spend time with when she was abroad. You seem to feel that she doesn't have the right to have a life outside your relationship.

It is possible that your girlfriend has reconsidered your relationship in the time she has been away. It's also possible that she decided it would be unkind to break up with you by text or phone call. You need to be prepared for that.

If that happens, you need to respect her choice. You also need to listen to her explanation of why she has reached this conclusion.

Basically, you're needy and jealous.