Think back to about twelve years ago. Our first day of kindergarten. Some of us stood together since the beginning. Others came into our lives years later. All that matters in the end is we finished as one.

As a whole, people tend to always label someone they just met as a friend. "Oh she's my friend from math class." We have all done it at one point or another. But now that it's brought to the eye, it really makes you think. You may know them but have you told them every piece of your life? Do they know your secrets? Do they know the list of crushes you had in seventh grade? Have they ever attempted to be put in ISS just because the rest of you are in trouble? Probably not.

Friends know you, but a best friend grows with you. Time has no place in friendship. Some of my best friends I met on the first day of kindergarten, others I made through friends. Sometimes you just meet someone at the most random moments, but they end up sticking around for forever. It's not coincidental. Everything happens for a reason.

After twelve years of growth, there comes momentary points in time where we fall apart. We grow sick of each other's presence every day. We find new best friends to travel with. We become accustomed to a new life where there simply isn't enough minutes in a day that we can be with eachother. It's hard, but its the truth. You miss each other, but it's life.

To all of my best friends in this lifetime,

I know we probably haven't talked in a while, some of you longer than others, but I miss you. I know the last time we all saw each other as a group was quite some time ago. We became independent. We became grown. We found new ways to adjust and cope without one another. That doesn't mean for a second I don't think of you all. I know most of us have moved away. Some of us remain exactly in the little towns we grew up in, but just because we don't talk everyday does not mean I don't wonder how your new life is treating you. I know as a person, I haven't been the "best" best friend, and I am truly sorry. I know I shouldn't have said some things, or treated you the ways I treated you. I should have been more understanding. I should have been a better listener. I should have been your shoulder to cry on when no one else understood what you were feeling except me. The truth is the harder it was on you , the harder it was on me. I never wanted to see you cry. I never wanted to see you fail. I especially never wanted to fail you, but I did. In the end I want all of you to know I am truly sorry. I miss Friday night lights. I miss roaming the streets of Taylor and Moosic with all of you. I miss sleepovers, and pool parties. I simply miss you. Next time you need a friend, you know where to find me. I will always be here for any of you, no matter how long it's been since I saw you last. I love you most.

Sincerely, Sie

If life taught me anything, it is that life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. Some people show up when someone else goes away. The important part is that when that person comes home, you welcome them with open arms. Ask them how they're doing. Ask them how they've been. Always be a friend.