There can be several reasons why people who were once your friends might act like nothing happened when you see them again after a long period of no contact:
Awkwardness avoidance: They might be trying to avoid any awkwardness or uncomfortable feelings that could arise from acknowledging the lapse in communication or potential reasons behind it.
Desire to reconnect: They may genuinely want to reconnect with you and rekindle the friendship. By acting like nothing happened, they are trying to create a fresh start and move forward positively.
Forgiving and understanding: Some people are more forgiving and understanding when it comes to the ups and downs of friendships. They may choose to overlook the past and focus on the present moment.
Assuming no harm: If the reason for the lack of communication was not due to any major conflict or issue, they might assume that there was no harm done during the period of no contact.
Not wanting to bring up negative feelings: They might be aware that there were reasons for the distance in the friendship, but they prefer not to bring up any negative feelings or past issues, hoping to keep the atmosphere positive.
Respecting personal boundaries: Your friend might understand that you needed space or time for yourself during the break, and they are trying to respect your boundaries by not questioning it.
Moving on from the past: They may have moved on from whatever caused the break in communication and decided to focus on building a better and stronger relationship moving forward.
Wanting to reconnect gradually: By acting like nothing happened, they might be easing back into the friendship, not wanting to overwhelm you or make you feel pressured to address the past immediately.
It's important to remember that people have different ways of handling situations and emotions. While some may prefer to address past issues and have open conversations about it, others may choose to move forward without dwelling on the past. If you feel comfortable, and if the past is still a concern for you, you can initiate a conversation to discuss what happened and how both of you can move forward positively. However, if you feel that the past is not a major issue for you and you are open to reconnecting, you can also let things unfold naturally and focus on rebuilding the friendship from where it stands now.