Dear Roommate,

It was almost exactly a year ago when I first learned your name, found out we would be rooming together. My previous roommates had fallen through, so I had no idea what this year would be like. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m kind of an odd person, and not everyone appreciates my sense of humor.

But you do.

After weeks of texting back and forth and a couple phone calls, I came "home" to our apartment one day after an orientation thing to find you and all your gigantic suitcases standing in what was now ‘our’ living room. I went for a hug right away (of course I did!) And you hugged me right back.

We got along well from the very beginning, didn’t we? We spent that first night rearranging your furniture the way you wanted it, and it set the precedent for many late night talks and laughter sessions. All year, you were the more level-headed of us. The quieter of us, except for around me and a few of our closest friends. You’ve always been more studious than I, but you never made me feel dumb. You’re absolutely brilliant, but one of the most humble people I know. You have high standards for yourself but you’re the first to give grace to others.

You didn’t kick me out when I texted you puns when I missed you over breaks, or when I kept you far too late with my drama and “tell me what you think of this!” You let me borrow your skirt once when I didn’t like the way any of mine looked, and in every way, you balanced me out and kept me sane.

You inspire me more than you know and I look up to you more than you realize (and not just because you have over four inches on me.)

I’m sure I frustrated you more than once, probably when I teased you or called you “Mommy" and most definitely that one time I was out late and forgot to tell you. Probably when I forgot to do the dishes, and certainly when I blared my music too loud. But throughout it all, you’ve been the most graceful of roommates and, because of you, I started to think of our apartment as home.

Last year was better than it could have been because of you. A lot happened in this past school year, and I want to thank you for being there for me through it all. From being my shoulder to cry on, my level-headed, impartial sounding board, my chocolate bringer during tax time, and my Gatorade-fetcher when I had the flu.

I don’t think you’ll ever know how much I appreciate you. God knew that I would need a cheerleader like you, someone to always remind me to take a step breath, someone who would encourage me to be better, and someone to give me a hug when I needed it most.

When I think of how much I miss you, so many memories go through my mind. That time I was really stressed out and filled our kitchen with baked goods, and you patiently tasted them all and let me bake. That time I had so many emotions I didn’t know what to do with them all and I curled up on our porch and cried, you sat with me and just let me cry.

When I had my concussion, you checked on me all the time and always made sure I was okay.

We may not be roommates next year, but you’ve left an impression on me, Roommate. I will always call you that, as long as we both shall live, even if we never room together again. I hope we’ll always be close friends, and I hope that someday you'll know how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me.

Love,

Roommate.