When you and I went off to different colleges last year, I didn't think I would take it as hard as I did. I went from seeing you nearly every day to seeing you every few months if I was lucky. We both found new friends, got swept up into school, extracurriculars, and work, and our conversations became few and far between. But when we were both home, we reconnected like nothing ever happened; that's how I know you're my best friend.

After going through last year, I expected this year to be easier. I was already used to not seeing you daily, so I figured that going back to lives apart wouldn't be hard. Boy, was I wrong! The minute I knew you were no longer in town... I cried. I started counting down the weeks until I could see you again. Now that that week is approaching, I figured I'd take a look back at all the things I've missed most about you.

1. Your advice

You are one of the most level-headed individuals I have ever met. No matter how upset or freaked out I get, you find the words needed to calm me down and make sense of things.

2. Your sense of adventure

You are someone who is down to drive 25 minutes across town just to get chicken nuggets. Or to just drive out to the middle of nowhere and hear about my childhood, find our old math teacher's house, or talk about anything and everything. You are fine with staying out later than we should be and just seizing the little moments that present themselves along the way.

3. Our conversations

One minute we're cracking jokes, the next we're debating controversial topics, and then we finish off by sharing the tougher personal things going on in our lives. There is never a dull moment, even when we've seen each other across consecutive days. We always find something new to talk about.

4. Your sense of humor

You can make me laugh harder than anyone I know. You have the ability to turn an irritating situation (getting stuck in a parking garage at an Ellie Goulding concert, for example) into something we can laugh about for hours after. You are single-handedly the best person to go through frustrating, difficult, or emotional times with because you make everyone feel better.

5. Your compassion

You have a heart bigger than the Milky Way and you are not afraid to show it. Hearing a mean word come out of your mouth is rarer than consistent weather in Indiana. You embrace people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, beliefs, sexualities, and more. Everyone has a place in your group of friends, and the various people you bring in make it a diverse and supportive squad to belong to.

6. How we fit together

Whenever I am with you, the world seems better. I am no longer afraid to bust out laughing in the middle of Barnes and Noble for no reason because I know you'll be laughing right along with me. It is easier going through life when you know there is someone out there just as weird as you are, with the same sense of humor and interests you have, and who understands (almost) everything about you.

There are many more things I miss about you, of course, but the list would go on for far longer than I have room. You are so many wonderful things, and you bring so much joy to the world. I am glad to know you and grateful that I get to be a part of your life. I love you and I miss you and I can't wait to have a romantic comedy run-hug moment with you when I see you again.