Hey you. This is probably (definitely) going to make you (and me) cry, but here I go.

Where do I start? We've been best friends for a long time. Eight years to be exact. So much has happened in that time. I remember we met 7th grade year in gym class. From there, our friendship grew and blossomed. We only lived two miles away from each other then. In the summertime, we'd go swim in the creek, and explore the tree thicket not far from your house. I remember walking the streets on a Friday night, just talking as the sun set, and the as streetlights began to illuminate. I remember arguing over how to make Ramen noodles and pancakes on a Saturday morning (I wanted to measure everything out, but you liked to guesstimate it!) The bus rides home listening to music. The bonfires every Friday night in the fall. Sledding in winter.

I remember so much and I look back on all of it with so much fondness and love. You were the first friend who was truly there for me through everything. No matter what. You always listened. When I would spend the night at your house, before we would go to bed, you'd turn the light off, but we wouldn't yet go to sleep. We'd just talk. And not about the things we had spoken about during the day. The deeper things. Our insecurities, our hopes, our dreams, and our fears. And we would talk until one of us fell asleep talking. It was a much simpler time, and even though we struggled in different aspects of our lives, we were still together.

Then, before our senior year, you moved down to New Mexico. It was so hard. We went from being two miles away from each other, to being 800 miles away from each other. We both graduated high school that next year, and I started college. It was so hard without you. I called you so often because I didn't know very many people yet, and I was still developing friendships. A lot happened for the both of us those two years after high school. So much. All the stories I told to my friends involved you.

And now, after three years of being gone, communicating only through phone calls, texts, and Facebook, you're back. You're finally back. I remember finding out on Snapchat, of all things! I was so happy! And you were making it back before my sister graduated, so I planned for you to surprise her there. I cannot describe the happiness and joy I felt when meeting to pick you up to surprise her. After years of not seeing you, I could actually hug you! I remember starting to cry in the car, and you told me to stop because you'd cry, too!

We spend the summer together. You helped me to refocus myself, and to remind me about what was really important. Three years changed us both, and having you back again, changed me for the better. Your presence here again is a blessing to me.

I want you to know, no matter what, that you will ALWAYS be my best friend. We are different, but our differences only add to the depth of our friendship. I know that someday a guy will find your fancy (if he hasn't already!) and that things will evolve and change as you follow your path.

You are so beautiful, never forget that. You have an amazing heart, and I know that you would go to the ends of the earth for me, and I would for you, too. You have such strength and determination, and you are an inspiration. You have prevailed against the obstacles that life has thrown at you, and you have come out of it a better person.

You are a beautiful constellation of efflorescent insights, and I look forward to our lives ahead as best friends.

I love you, Best Friend.