Dear friend,
Nine months. That is how long we have known each other and grown as individuals. Together, we became friends and eventually, we became best friends. We have cliche inside jokes that nobody else understands, have spent nights sitting on pool tables talking about life, always see superhero movies together, and have taken this adventure of college hand in hand.
Let me just say what a blessing it is to tell people that one of my best friends is serving for our country. People always respond with, “Isn’t she too young?” But I look at it differently. I look at having a friend who wants to see a change in the country. No matter what happens between now and the day you leave to go overseas, just know that I have never been prouder of you.
But let me take a step back for a moment. What I’m about to share isn’t supposed to make you cry (I hope reading this letter does make you feel a little sentimental at least), but it’s to help you better understand what not only I but our group of friends feels. Yes, we are insanely proud of you for having the honor to fight and put the United States to its good title. But I know I personally can’t be more disappointed that you won’t be here for our sophomore year. Our group is losing one for six months minimum. The day you messaged us that you wouldn’t be here at Akron in the fall was two days after my dad told me he was being deployed, too.
I’ve grown up as a child of a parent in the Air Force and we’ve been more of the luckier family. My dad only moved once; he was only gone when I was a baby, and only had a few trips every now and then that lasted up to two weeks. Being told he has to leave for six months was kind of a bummer and then to find out two days later that our plans for our sophomore year are put on hold was overwhelming.
Truthfully, it took me a little while to come to terms with the news that had just been given. It took a few weeks and when I spoke of you, my family reassured me that where you’re leaving to will be safe and that in a year, our group of friends will be together again. So lately, I’ve been looking at it that way—that in one year, we can resume the plans that our friends have all made together.
As for the day you are leaving, expect us to be there to see you off. I can’t promise that there won’t be any tears and when we all hug that we’ll let go, but we’ll leave prouder than we ever will be.
Thank you for serving our country, thank you for all the memories so far, and thank you for being my best friend. I honestly don’t know where I would be without your support and now it’s my turn to return the favor. Expect lots of letters and when the opportunity is given, video messages and phone calls. I love you, best friend.
Sincerely,
A friend
