Having a best friend is one of the most incredible gifts life can ever offer. There is nothing like having that one special person that you can go to about anything because they're the only one that really understands. Some people find their person later in life, but some (like me) are lucky enough to come across that person at an early age. When you grow up together like my best friend and I did, the idea of being apart for even a moment can seem like the end of the world. We spent days, weekends, really even weeks at a time together, attached at the hip. We never knew the day would come when we'd be separated. When I left for college, I had to rip off the girl sized leech attached to my hip and start something new. It was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Although we were apart, it didn't change how strong our friendship was, we just had to learn other ways to keep our friend fire burning. It isn't always easy, I'll be the first to tell you, but in the end, it's all worth it. Sometimes it can really feel like no one understands what you're going through when you have to leave your person.

1. Saying goodbye.

I honestly feel like the only thing more painful than having to say goodbye to your best friend would be sitting in a human-sized blender. "I'm not gonna cry." Yes, you are.

2. Explaining your LDBFF to your nearby BFFS.

Most likely, you will start so many sentences with "My best friend ___ that lives in___" that your local friends feel like they know them already.

3. Blowing up each others phones all day long.

You most likely text each other anything and everything that comes to mind. If you think it, they get a text containing it. From a million text messages to spamming each others social media, it's like you're with each other anyway.

4. Calling them for stupid things (but really just to hear their voice).

"OMG, you have to hear this story" then, you follow up with a stupid story that even you know was irrelevant. It's a clever ploy to just get to hear their voice, because sometimes that's all it takes to get you through the day.

5. The separation anxiety is real.

You two may talk everyday and send enough snap chats that there's no way you could forget each other's faces, but that could never compare to getting to actually be together. You make the distance work, but really just being able to sit together is what you really need.

6. "No, we're not really in love with each other."

When you do get to see each other, you have a lot of time to make up for. Being so far apart so often means that when you are together, you need to be as close as possible. That probably means lots of cuddling, sharing food, and being so inseparable that people start to think you're in love with one another.

7. Going from attached at the hip to hours apart.

If you're like my best friend and me, you grew up together and spent nearly every childhood moment together. It's hard to make that transition from being together so often that your skin might be fusing together, to being hours apart.

8. Finally getting to see them and other people intrude.

When you do finally get to see each other, nobody better rain on your parade. This is A and B time, so C your way out of it (that is the kind of joke that only my best friend would laugh at. Girl, I'm looking at you) There is nothing more frustrating than finally being reunited and having other people try to join the party. Like, hello this is my time, thank you very much.

9. They see snap chats no one else should ever have to.

I know I'm guilty. My LDBFF gets the cream of the crop, and by that I mean the absolute WORST pictures of me ever taken. In most of them, I probably don't look like myself, or even like a human at all. #Yourewelcome #blessed

10. Getting jealous when they talk about things happening in their lives that you can't be there for.

When you grow up celebrating all of those big moments together, it really sucks when you don't get to witness them anymore. It's hard not getting to be there for those new events, whether they're good or bad. It almost feels like you aren't able to fulfill your BFF obligations, and even though you know they understand, it really does take a punch at your heart.

11. Having to celebrate your birthday without them.

There probably isn't a single person that appreciates your day of birth as much as your best friend. After celebrating as many of them together as you have, not getting to be there on the day can really suck. "We'll just celebrate it early/late" or "I've mailed your card" are probably phrases you've come across around the birthdays. Although you REALLY appreciate the fact that they care enough to do anything for it, it still sucks not getting to see their face and eye rolls in person as you parade around as the birthday queen.

12. Time hop memories of when you were together are the worst.

You haven't experienced pure hatred of social media until you're already missing your best friend and it decides to throw one of your best memories right in your face. "Time hop" always gets me with this one. Just when I think I can't miss them more, an embarrassing (poorly orchestrated) Facebook status from 7th grade pops up and reminds you of the good ol' days when you guys commented things like "I love you is rawr in dinosaur" back and forth to each other.

13. Thinking about all the fun things you'll do when you reunite.

You'll go ahead and make plans to go out on the town looking all hot, go to your old favorite restaurants and hang out spots, or take on new adventures. "There's this restaurant we should totally try out." or "I really want to show you this new place I found."

14. But honestly, you'll probably just lay inside and eat together.

Although you've got a full queue for the visit, we all know that the moment you reunite all you're going to have time for is sitting in bed, eating ice cream, and talking about all the things that have happened since the last time you saw each other. (even though you obviously already texted her the whole story)

15. Having to say goodbye again.

And you thought it was hard the first time. The truth is, it never gets easier.

16. Even though its hard, it makes the moments you're together worth even more.

Distance sucks, I'll be the first to say it, but there's something about being so far apart that really teaches you to appreciate the time you do get to spend together. Each moment becomes important and unforgettable. When you only see each other in rare spurts, it brings on a realization that the middle school "OMG, I totally couldn't live without my BFF" wasn't just an exaggerated status update after all.

So, to all of you out there that struggle with missing your BFF, realize that you have a friendship that some people may never get to understand. You two are more than just friends, you're platonic soul mates, and if you can make it through this, you can make it through anything.