In honor of finally getting to see my best friend after seven very long months, I decided to write an open letter to my other half, Sabrina.

Throughout your life, you are going to meet thousands of people. Some will come into your life for five minutes, some a few years, but few will be there through it all. Not all of these people are going to mean something to you, or be worthwhile, but every so often, you’ll find a good one. Someone will come into your life, and they will never leave.

The definition of a true best friend: Someone that you share absolutely everything with, that you couldn’t live without. Someone that knows you better than you know yourself, who becomes a part of your family and is the “favorite daughter”, even when you are an only child. A best friend is someone who knows all of your flaws, but continues to love you unconditionally.

I met my best friend on the first day of kindergarten. She walked up to me just to inform me that my braids were messed up… who knew that that was going to be the beginning of a beautiful 17-plus-year friendship.

Over the years, we were inseparable. There were countless dance parties which always ended up with us sleeping on my couch after watching either Mary-Kate and Ashley movies, or as we got older, watching every sappy chick flick we could find.

We had a near-death experience… or two. Being way over dramatic any chance that we could, just for your mom to laugh and call us silly.

Lots of trips with the Girl Scouts when we were young, and then trips up north with the family as we grew up. Sitting in the back of the jeep with Chey, singing “Ticks” by Brad Paisley, over and over until my dad would shut it off.

Fishing in the lakes at Camp Dearborn in the summer and “extreme sledding” at Cheyenne’s in the winter. And who could forget, driving around with Ben spraying people (Tyler) with silly string on my 16th birthday.

Halloween in 2008, when we went trick-or-treating with Ben and Garrett, and that was the night that Garrett finally gave in and asked you to be his girlfriend. The day that I began having to share my best friend *eye roll emoji*.

Or, freshmen year, when we had to make a weather video for Ms. Weller’s Earth Science class, and you had to be a tornado. We made Tom and Sean dress up for our Orbit Gum “commercial” and we threw dirt at them. “Clean it up with Orbit Gum.”

You have always been my crazy side. You make the dull, boring days into a great story. Whenever I am having a bad day or just need to be cheered up, you’re always there to put a smile on my face, even when you are living so far away.

Being able to stand up in your wedding as your maid-of-honor this past May and seeing you so happy with your knight in shining armor is the most rewarding thing. I hate that as adults we can’t see each other in-person everyday anymore, but I’m still so glad that when we do, we pick right back up from where we left off without skipping a beat.

I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been without you in it. I can’t imagine what life would be like without you now, as well. Thankfully, I won’t have to find out.

Love forever,

Your other half