Dear childhood best friend,

Things aren’t the same as they used to be. From elementary school to middle school we were “best friends forever,” but unfortunately forever didn’t last as long as we had hoped. We grew up and grew apart.

Over the years we shared secrets and gossip, laughed together, and cried together. We obsessed over boy bands, played the Wii for hours on end, and watched scary movies that were way too scary. There was a time when every weekend, either you came to my house or I went to yours. We were like sisters (except we didn’t fight like sisters).

And then things changed. We spent less time together, didn’t share secrets anymore, and stopped being best friends. For a long period of time I wondered what had happened to our friendship and how you could just move on from it. The last couple years of high school were rough for me. I felt lonely, depressed, and unwanted. I asked myself over and over again, “what did I do wrong?” I wondered why all of my best friends were no longer my friends at all.

After a while, I decided I wasn’t going to let it ruin the time I had left in high school. And to be honest, I’m not writing this to tell you how much you hurt me. The point isn’t to tell you how upset and frustrated I was, or how much I hated seeing you have fun without me.

I’m writing this to tell you that I miss you. And to tell you that no matter what has happened between us, I don’t regret our friendship. I’m sorry we drifted apart and I know we’ll never have the friendship we used to, but I am so thankful for the great memories we made together.

I want to thank you. First, for being my best friend, listening to me complain, and making me smile. Also, for making me feel like part of your family and for those late nights we spent eating junk food and talking about life. But most of all, thank you for helping me realize that while all good things do come to an end, it is possible to move on from them.

In high school we had our differences. I’m not sure if that’s why our friendship ended, or if it was actually because we’re alike in so many ways. Regardless of the reasoning, I’m sorry it happened and I hope you’ll forgive me for letting it.

I also hope that years from now when you look back at our friendship you won’t think of how it ended, you’ll think of how it started and the many wonderful moments it consisted of. I hope you’re enjoying college and beginning to live the life you dreamed of. I wish you the very best, and I know your future will be a successful one. You may not be my best friend forever, but you will always be my childhood best friend.

Love,

A girl who misses her best friend