Dear Boston,

I'm from Seattle. Which I would say is pretty similar to Boston. Both cities are medium-sized cities, overshadowed by a larger neighbor, and near a beautiful harbor.

But Seattle and Boston couldn't be more apart. I travel nearly five hours to get to either side. Five hours of straight waiting, of my legs turning into jelly, of my bladder exploding, of my headache getting worse and worse, of the pressure in my head getting worse, of breathing a sharp air, and straining to listen to my music over the roaring engines and crying babies.

I've traveled back and forth 13 times. 13 * 5 = 65 hours on the plane, just to go to school. Not to mention the price of the plane tickets.

How do I say this?

I'm stoic, trained to express only the emotions other people want to see. I smile and I laugh because that is good. It gets me off the hook. I hide my sad and angry emotions because nobody wants to see that, nobody cares.

But when asked the state of my human condition, how I'm really doing, the facade breaks. I say something generic and laugh it off, hoping the other person will understand.

But to get to know somebody, you have to be vulnerable and you have to tell people how you are really doing.

I'm immensely private. Writing is my one escape to tell people how I really feel and how I really am. It's so hard to face people in reality and tell them how I feel. It sounds psychotic but emotions are not my forte.

Anyways, leaving Boston is hard. It's a beautiful city. But it's more than that. My friends are there. My favorite friends. I've never ever been able to tell anybody how I feel and why I feel that. I feel judged, vulnerable and pathetic if I let a leak of my emotions out.

But with every conversation and laugh we shared, I felt that I could tell you and show you who I really am. In a way, I'm like Shrek. Ogres are like onions. We have layers.

I developed so much confidence and I have never felt so myself in my entire life. But this is so awfully direct, I don't know if I can show you guys this. But know that I will never, ever forget you guys. You will forever be my favorite friends, the only people that have seen what I really am like. You lot are absolutely funny, understanding, and downright the most incredible people I have ever had the real pleasure to meet. I don't express my emotions, so when I do, it's real and it's important.

You guys are worth the 65 hours of headache and stomach cramps.

I miss you more than I, or you, could ever imagine.