Hi there! Remember me? I was the person that you spent all of your free time hanging out with in between classes. I was the person that you'd call anytime you needed to vent about your problems. I was the person you spent homecoming, prom and graduation with. I was your friend. I was your rock, and you were mine.
What happened? Well, a lot of things. After graduation, many of us went to different places for college. We didn't have time to say goodbye, or even time to adjust to not going back to high school when school started back in the fall. When we got to college, that's when reality hit. Between the busy schedules, the hustle and bustle of college life and trying to maintain sanity in a world where every face was new, we lost contact. Days turned into months, and months turned into years. Before I knew it, three years had passed since high school graduation.
This was daunting to me. I nearly started to cry. So much had happened to all of you. So much that I missed out on because I was too busy trying to keep my head above water in the world of higher education. I missed baby showers, births, weddings, even major career advancements. So much of life flashed before my eyes in such a short amount of time, that it scared me. I was afraid to reach out to anyone, because I wasn't sure how to start the conversation. It was too informal to send a quick, "Hey! How've you been?" And too formal to send a long message over Facebook.
There's always something about childhood friends that can never be replaced by anyone else. Even if it's been years since people have spoken, it's like no time has passed when relationships are rekindled. Childhood friends are like family. You grow up together, you fight, laugh and cry together. This is something I told myself when thinking about what I was going to say in my letter to you.
Three years doesn't sound like a long time, but it is. So many of you have gone onto great and wonderful things, and that makes me so happy. Looking through posts seeing everyone so happy and prosperous makes me smile. Knowing that my childhood friends are finally finding themselves in this world is the best feeling in the world. Even though I'm happy for all of you, I'm still sad.
Growing up with such a small group of people made it hard for me to move on in college. Making friends has never been easy for me, but it has been even harder in college. While everyone is making new friends and connections in college, I can't help but wonder if you remember our friendship. I sometimes wonder if your new friends know your allergies to that specific candy, or if they know how ecstatic you get over the smallest things. I think about how they treat you, and if they treat you how you deserve to be treated. I pray that they keep you safe and keep out of harms way. I hope that the friends you make in college can give you the same kind of friendship I was able to give you.
Before I end this letter to you, I want you to know this one important thing, whenever you need me, I'll be here. Whenever you need a voice of reason, I'll be here. Whenever you just need a comforting word, I'll be here. I'll always be here for you. No matter where this world leads us, or how much time has passed, I'll always be here for you.
I wish you everything happy and successful that life has to offer you. I hope that life is everything that you dreamed it would be in high school.
Amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero sempiternam fore - Cicero
Translation: I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting.
Sincerely,
Your high school friend
