Dear Reyna,

Today is your birthday and man has it been one crazy year. We have completely upended our lives and began new ones. We’ve had our ups and downs from outrages in the car after school to laughing until we’re crying. But you have always been there for me.

As many people know, we did not like each other when we first met. Somehow, we put aside our differences and became friends when we both needed each other most. Ever since that day in fifth grade you have been by my side.

In high school, our friendship became even stronger than it was in middle school. We spent our days together with old and new friends. You were always there to support me during play season and I tried to support you whether it be in tennis or Cyber Patriots.

Senior year we would sit in my car every day after school and split the three chocolate chip cookies my dad had packed for me in my lunch. That was my absolute favorite time of the day because I could vent about what was bothering me and you would make me laugh so hard I would forget whatever I was upset about.

And whenever you needed to yell about how frustrating school was that day I would sit there and listen and try to help. I wish we could still sit in my car every day and just talk.

You have always felt like apart from my family and being an only child you are like a sister to me. I especially love going over your house to just hanging out with your siblings or taking a nap on the hammock or sitting on your couch and making absurd comments about the movie we were watching (let’s face it, we were probably watching High School Musical for the hundredth time).

Now that we are in college it’s been hard. We’ve gone to school together since kindergarten and you’ve been my best friend since fifth grade. Not having you to talk to every day in person has been hard. We both had to find new friends, but nobody will ever be able to take your place. Nobody can make me feel more comfortable than you when we just sit in silence for hours on end. That’s how strong our friendship is, we don’t even need to speak sometimes.

You’re still always there for me though. You’re just one FaceTime call away, and you have gotten even better at answering your texts! We still have the bond we’ve shared for the last eight years, and I don’t think it will ever be broken.

Even though you joke that you’re always trying to get rid of me, I know you love me just as much as I love you. So, this is your birthday card for the year. I am notoriously famous for writing long insightful messages, and this is sort of like that...just one the internet for everyone to see.

Happy Birthday to my best friend in the entire world. Nineteen will be a great year. I love you so much.

Love,

Ariana