Freshman year of high school, if someone would've asked me if we'd ever be friends, I probably would've laughed so hard and fell to the floor from my ribs hurting so much.

Almost five years later, I miss you like crazy.

We became so close senior year. Our Dairy Queen lunch runs, boy talks, cry sessions. When we literally had no one standing behind us, we had each other to guide. I literally wouldn't have made it through if it wasn't for you.

Don't mind the bad phone quality... ha ha.

When you mentioned the words, "I'm joining the army." I thought you were crazy. It sunk so deep. What happened to being a chef? Going to college? You wouldn't be hundreds of miles away from me if you would've...

But that's selfish of me to think.

I hate that I've missed every homecoming due to class. I hate that I can't talk to you whenever I want. I think about you often, wondering what you could be doing at this exact moment. If you ever feel forgotten, here's your reminder that you're not.

Let me end this by saying, I love you! I cannot describe how proud I am of you.

Thank you for doing what most will not.

Thank you for standing for a country that doesn't always support, but always remember that those waiting for you to be home, do.

I could never be you. I could never be as strong as you are and make such a big life changing decision. Just know wherever you are today, tomorrow, next year, I'll always be waiting for you to come home, safe and sound. We still need one more Dairy Queen lunch run, one more boy talk, and one more cry session.

We miss you. Come home soon.

P.S. You look stunning in your uniform.