Dear friend,

I never knew how much your friendship meant to me until we graduated high school. You have taught me so many things without even knowing, and for that, I am forever thankful. Because of you, the Summer after we graduated I was able to finally sit back and relax. Most of my childhood consisted of doing school work, and playing video games by myself, because I was the only boy in my household. Staying up until four or five in the morning, playing video games, ordering food late nights, almost dying together a couple of times, and you randomly showing up at my job, are some of the best memories that I have with any friend. All of these moments we shared, made me realize that you were truly one of my best friends. Every time someone asked “why do you hang out with that girl?”, I always told them that you were one of the bros.

As time went on, I started to pay closer attention to you and noticing that you were not happy with who you were. After noticing that your depression and anxiety were starting to get worse, I made it my own personal mission to always keep an eye on you. It wasn’t until I finally saw a Facebook status of you admitting that you were not happy in your body and that you wanted to have a sex change that I realized what was going on. I have never been more proud of you than I was at that moment because I understood how much courage it took for you to post that and openly tell everyone why you haven’t been happy lately. After your post, I completely changed my views on so many things. Although I may tease you when we’re playing around, I no longer use the word “gay” to describe something I don’t like. It is because of you that now whenever I see someone openly bashing gays and transgender people, I argue with them until I am blue in the face. It strikes a nerve in me to see things like that because I can only imagine how you feel when you see those hateful comments. When I first met you, I would’ve never imagined how you have changed my life the way you did. I am now a better person than I was two years ago, and I owe that all to you.

Your friend,

Devon