To my best friend, my better half, the Cristina to my Meredith:

I don’t think I’ve ever called you “my person” out loud, but when I try to think of a word to describe what you are to me, it just seems to fit. “Friend” simply doesn’t convey enough.

Who would’ve thought we’d be here now? I can hardly believe we’re about to finish our second year in college. I still remember those first playdates during our budding friendship back in elementary school. Our friendship, just like Cristina and Meredith’s, has been down a long, rocky road, but somehow we've been able to persevere. Over the years, we’ve grown together from sunny children to angst-ridden teenagers to floundering, not-quite-real adults.

Whenever I’m doing something without you, I’m always thinking it would be better if you were here. Whenever anything happens, you’re always the first person I think of to tell. Even though we go to school miles apart from each other, we still manage to make it work. This is the power of long-distance friendship, when you know you would travel any distance just to spend time with the one who knows you best.

And it sometimes still surprises me how well we know each other. You really learn a lot about someone over 15 years. To me, the fact that you don’t like dumplings is knowledge as common as the sun shining, and you don’t even have to blink an eye to know that I always take way too long in the shower. Maybe if we both end up eschewing the institution of marriage, we can end up living together as old dog ladies.

In the end, all I can say is, thanks. Thank you for always being available, despite the distance between us. Thank you for never judging me even when I totally deserve it. Thank you for all the Netflix binges, sleepovers, and concerts together.