AITA for choosing my childhood dream over my best friend’s wedding?

I (28F) have been best friends with Sarah (29F) since we were kids. We’ve always been inseparable, from playing in the backyard to sharing our secrets as we got older. When Sarah got engaged to Tom, her college boyfriend, I was beyond excited for her. She’s the type of person who had always dreamed of a big, fairy-tale wedding, and I couldn’t wait to help her plan it all.

Now, I’ve always had one big dream in life – to work with wildlife conservation. I know it’s not a typical career, but it’s something I’ve been passionate about since I was a child. After years of studying and volunteering, I was finally offered a dream job in Africa, working for a well-known wildlife preservation organization. The catch? It would require me to leave the country for six months, starting just a few weeks before Sarah’s wedding.

I had been planning on being Sarah’s maid of honor. I had been helping her with every detail of the wedding for months, from picking out bridesmaid dresses to planning the bachelorette party. I had even promised her I’d be by her side on the big day. But then, the job offer came through, and it was everything I had ever dreamed of. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I knew it would be incredibly difficult to get another shot at something like this.

I tried to talk to Sarah about it, explaining how important this job was to me and how much it meant for my career and future. I thought she would understand, but she was devastated. She told me that if I chose the job over her wedding, it would feel like I was choosing everything else over our friendship. She said, “You promised you’d be here for me no matter what.”

I was torn. I love Sarah, and I knew this was her big day, but I also knew that this job was a chance I might never get again. I spent days weighing the decision, but eventually, I chose the job. I explained to Sarah that I would still be there for her, just not physically on the wedding day. I offered to help with whatever I could from afar, but it wasn’t the same, and she didn’t take it well.

The day I left for Africa, Sarah didn’t speak to me. She sent me a text saying, “Thanks for choosing your dream over me.” It broke my heart, but I knew I had made the right choice for myself.

Now, I’m in Africa, living my dream, but Sarah has barely spoken to me since. We’ve had a few heated arguments over the phone, and it feels like our friendship is slipping away.

So, AITA for choosing my childhood dream over my best friend’s wedding? I know I hurt her, but I also feel like I had to take this chance. Should I have sacrificed my dream for her, or was I justified in making this decision?