The person in my life who I consider my best friend is never considered less than a hero in my eyes. When I say hero, that doesn't mean I expect her to jump into a fire for me or push me out of the way of an oncoming car, I mean she is the person in my life who I look up and I am thankful for every day.

Dear Friend,

I know I tell you this all of the time but I love you with all of my heart. When I was younger my grandma Pearl used to sing to her grandkids "You are my sunshine." I have always had an appreciation for that song that doesn't compare to anything other. This is why on dark days, I tell you that you are my sunshine. When I say that I am trying to express every emotion to you that I can in one simple phrase.

You are the person in my life that lights up my moments of sorrow and sadness.

When my grandma Rose died our junior year, I didn't know how to handle myself. Everyone mourns in different ways and I needed to talk. The second I texted you on my car-ride home from Tennessee, you responded immediately. You knew I didn't need advice and it would have been foolish for me to ask for, what can you really tell someone in that situation. You talked to me and asked me about memories, always responded until you knew that I was okay and there was nothing left to say.

That next week at school, you didn't let my sadness overrule our friendship. We talked and made jokes because you knew that it was what I needed. Sometimes when I won't open up, you push me to. For some, this may seem like a bad thing but I know, for me, it isn't. You know when I'm upset and how to help. Even when you feel like your words are doing nothing or that you could be doing more, just know that I appreciate everything and you are doing wonderfully.

You are the person that I want to talk to the second anything happens in my life.

I am often stuck in a situation where something funny or exciting happens in my life and I pick up my phone to tell you immediately. Often, I turn to look over my shoulder and you're there. My first instinct is to share my life events with you but at this point, when anything is worth sharing, you're already with me.

You are the person that I love and trust with all of my heart.

We meet in second grade, 11 years ago. We begin our friendship with the classic storybook connection. We talked, had a few play dates, and split paths as we grew older. The next time we talked was our seventh-grade year in choir. Just like before, we did not become immediate friends. We talked in class and had each other numbers but never really saw each other outside of school. Then one day in choir, you were upset. Someone asked you about it and you brushed them off, not wanting to talk about it. That night was probably the first time I texted you, just a simple "hey, what's up" and eventually I asked you if you were doing okay from earlier that day.

Our conversation, just as many do now, became very deep and personal very quickly. We talked about everything and our friendship was born immediately after that night. It has been years since that conversation and sometimes our friendship has faltered but only to come back as strong as it started the very first night. You are the person in my life who knows more about me than I probably even know.

You are my person.

Love,

Randi