I miss you. I know that I told you at the end of summer that I would, but I really miss you. I miss the coffee shop talks, the errands we ran together, and the after church lunches. I miss everything about you. School is exhausting, and I am grateful for the friends I have here, but I need you right now. How am I expected to go through some of life's most formative years living hundreds of miles away from the people I grew up with, the people who know my every quirk? I love my school, but I miss you. I know you don't hear from me very often, that I don't reach out enough. I'm not good at staying in touch. I forget to send you a happy birthday text, or to tell you the funny joke I heard yesterday, and it's too late by the time I remember. I feel like a terrible friend. You deserve those texts, and those jokes. You deserve better, I know that and I am trying. I cannot promise this year will be easier, but I can promise that I will try harder to stay in touch. I want you to know the funny jokes, and the stories from my week, but, we both know whatever communication we have won't be enough. I couldn't have enough hours on the phone with you to make it feel like we're together.
We are adults now, and we aren't forced to be together all the time. I know that you know I miss you, even if I don't tell you enough. But sometimes I doubt that you know just how much. I miss you coming to my house to swim, watching tv until we fall asleep and laughing at each other until we cry. I miss drinking giant slurpees with you, and laughing when I get sick from it. I just miss you. When you remember these things, know that I am waiting patiently for the next break to come so I can come to you, and we can make more memories. I am waiting to finally sit across the table from someone who knows my whole life story because they lived through it with me, not just by me telling them. I miss you just nodding in understanding when I cry over something I thought I had worked through years ago. You are my best friend, and I don't know what I would do without you're comforting hugs. I am forever thankful for you allowing me to cry on your shoulder, thank you.
When you see a text from me, respond. I'm not good at texting, or calling, so take it as a compliment when I reach out. I want to live life with you, but it's hard when I am this far away. The short texts I send to you are my way of living life with you. I want to know everything, even if you send me just one long text in response, and nothing else after, or if you send a couple short messages, or even just say I'll call you later. Tell me everything. I want to know about the cute boy you saw while pumping gas, the Bible verse you just can't get out of your head, the new dress you got and even the friends you found that will replace me while we aren't together. Tell me everything because I want to hear it. I want to live life with you, so let me.
When I tell you everything, it means I want you to be living life with me. I'm hundreds of miles away from you, but still need you in my life, by any means possible. I'm going to send you a long text that says hi, and then everything that has happened since we last talked. I am going to be annoyingly clingy at times. Go with it. I cherish every moment I am with you, and every word you tell me. You are too valuable to lose just because I am at school. So, talk to me. If I don't reach out for a while, I didn't forget about you. I am busy, and know you are busy too. I miss you more than you could ever know. So here's to you, to the friends that won't let hundreds of miles stop us from conquering the world together.
