You know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. I can definitely vouch for this statement, because, unfortunately, I had the experience of being separated from my childhood best friend due to college.
Why is it that distance is such a difficult thing to cope with? It is not like we are never going to see them again, so why do we dread it so much?
It is not so much the distance as it is the absence. You grew up with this person. Anyone worthy of the title “best friend” knows it all—they know absolutely everything. You don’t even have to explain if something is wrong because they know as soon as they see the expression on your face.
You are so used to just texting them saying you are outside their house. Every day is spent with one another and if it’s not—you text about how much you miss each other and can’t wait till the next time you are together.
This person embodies all that you inspire to be and you are so used to having them by your side, literally.
They don’t just care about the good and the bad things that are happening in your life—but they want to know about the irrelevant things too. The best part about having someone that fits this description is that your conversations are comfortable and informal. You skip the “Hi, how are you?” texts and go straight to the “I just tripped on my way home from class,” text.
This person doesn’t just know you—they know your family. They are essentially one of your siblings, and your parents even have nicknames for them. You know their family inside and out, and even enough to attend their family events.
I am currently a junior in college and being miles away from my best friend hasn’t gotten much easier. Although FaceTime sessions and college visits have done a decent job of making up for lost time, nothing compares to feeling that person’s presence.
Even though having a long distance best friend is not an ideal scenario, I can’t help but be thankful. I am thankful because I have someone that calls me when my texts seem a little off. I am thankful because I have someone that asks how my exam went, even though they go to a different school. I am thankful because I have someone that never fails to support me in all that I do. But most of all, I am thankful that I have someone that makes saying goodbye so incredibly hard.
