What is a best friend? Best friends are your closest friends. They are special people in your life; people who mean more to you than you could ever imagine. They are the people who never judge you, even though they know everything about you that there is to know. They are the first people you think of when you make plans and they are the people you run too when you need to celebrate and when you need to cry. My best friend is all of that, but he is also so much more.

I met my best friend two and a half years ago when I traveled to Scotland to attend a Youth Festival and participate in a Pilgrimage on the island of Iona. The way we met was kind of interesting because we hadn't been in the same small groups and we hardly talked until the last night of the trip. That last night, we started hanging out and getting to know each other. I had my camera and he took it and we took a lot of pictures, one of which hangs on the wall right next to my bed. It wasn't until after the festival had ended and I had returned to America while he stayed in Scotland that we began to talk consistently. It started out as small talk over Facebook and progressed to sending each other Snapchats every day. He eventually began to open up to me about everything that his family was struggling with and about his own personal struggles with depression and anxiety.

I can't tell you how exactly it happened, but we had a connection. It was that connection that brought us closer and closer together and made it so easy to talk to each other. Over the past few years, our friendship has only grown stronger and we've only become closer to each other. I have seen him and been there for him at his absolute lowest and he has seen me when I am an absolute wreck. Despite the five hour time difference that comes with living in two different countries, we take care of each other. We keep each other in check and make sure the other one always has someone to count on.

There have definitely been some times that I was worried I wouldn't be able to talk to him anymore, that his mental health would fully consume him and I'd be kicked to the curb. So far, that hasn't happened and something tells me it won't happen. He's stronger than he knows. Just because I can see his strength doesn't mean that he always can. Despite this, he's made it so far and I'm so proud of everything he's accomplished. No matter what he's dealing with in his life, he always takes the time to be there for me and ask me how my day was. He is beautiful in every single way - in the way he looks, in the way he acts, in the way he is. His scars and flaws tell the story of how far he's come and how he became the person he is today. I may be a little biased, but I think he's perfect despite these flaws.

I'm not going to lie, it's really, really hard having a best friend who lives in a completely different country and who is five hours ahead of you. I get jealous sometimes because of all the people who get to hang out with my best friend when I have to settle for a Snapchat or a Facebook message. I would never complain about that, don't get me wrong! Some form of communication is better than no form of communication. And the people that he hangs out with make his happy, which is all I ever want for him to be. We make each other happy by constantly keeping each other's spirits up and working to build up each other's self-esteem. But there are times when I just really need a hug or someone to hold me when I'm crying, and he's the only person I want to be there. It's really hard not being there for him when he needs someone to be there for him, to tell him that everything will be okay. While it's hard being away from him, especially when we're both struggling, we've made it this far without being together in person and I feel more connected to him than most people I have met. I would wait forever for the chance for us to finally be together, and I can't wait for the day that I get to see him again.

He is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met. When he smiles, everywhere around him begins to shine. He can brighten my whole day. His voice is music to my ears. He always knows what to say when I'm having a rough day. When he is happy, I am happy. He is the first thing I think about when I wake up, and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. When I see his name on my phone screen, I smile and my heart leaps just a little bit. He is the person that I would marry, and I love him so much. He is more than my best friend - he is my better half, my soulmate.