I owe her an apology... On March 22, I finally told her I was transferring colleges. We cried for 3 hours, but, for some reason, I felt a strong happiness in my heart. I know she sensed that... because she knows me too well. And I know her too well. She took that happiness and my urge to leave as me abandoning her and our friendship... at first anyway.

I know she thought the experiences and bonds we had built together were possibly soon to come to an end. Maybe she thought I was being selfish. And I was, but for all the right reasons. She finally came to terms with it all. She realized if I was going to stay at Maryville College, I'd have to stay for myself and not for her sake.

I just want to her to know that I'm so sorry that I left. I promise I'm happier now in so many senses, but I miss her every day. I miss running to her room when an episode of my favorite show made me cry. I miss trying on fifty different outfits only to decide on wearing her whole wardrobe. I miss walks in the woods and spontaneous trips to Cades' Cove. But...

I also owe her a huge thanks... because, ever since then, she has challenged my every decision. She makes sure that I am 100 percent positive I want to do what I say. She pushes me for greater things and greater choices, and I've come to acknowledge that she is a rare true friend to find.

She and I are almost identical in the way we react, the way we process, the way we exist and the way we interact with people. We are both obnoxiously empathic. 90 percent of our conversations consist of deep talks about other people or about our own hearts. When her mom's best friend passed away, we both cried because we couldn't seem to imagine when that day will come for one of us. Hell, she and I have made a plan B for when/if our plan A falls through...

Our plan A: Follow dream jobs, marry a wonderful husband, live next door to one another, make sure our kids get married. (slightly kidding... maybe)

Our plan B: If neither of us gets married by age 40, we will build a tiny house and move out west, have two cats and three adopted children. That's the end of it.

I just want her to know that she will always hold something special in my heart.

I visited her this past week...

Before I left she said, "We don't cry over leaving anymore, because we know we can do this. I love you."

She hugged me, and I crawled in my car and left. Ten minutes later she read my mind and texted, "I take it back, I'll never get used to seeing you drive away. I already miss you." I sent her a Snapchat of me sobbing.

She is one of the best people on this planet. And she's the one I gladly get to share so many moments in life with. I know this article is cheesy as all hell, but I think that it's necessary.

I am sorry for leaving, June. But I am not sorry for how much you mean to me. Leaving means we get to say hello over and over and over again. And what greater joy is there than to continuously get to say hello to one of the greatest people ever?

Here's to the rest of our lives. Thank you for making me a better version of myself.