To the Teammates Who Have Never Left My Heart,

I write to you today wherever you may be in the world, doing whatever it is that makes you happy, to tell you that each and every day that passes on from the moment that I left you, the love I have for you in my heart only gets stronger. People say time heals all wounds, and maybe I have yet to have enough time without you to realize that although I cannot see you each and every day, you are with me always. As I reminisce on all the days spent in our tiny little school, reflecting on all that I did and all I have left to do in this world, I can't help but miss you--YOU. The teammates that made me laugh, and made me cry both tears of joy and sadness. The teammates that taught me more about life, love, and friendship than anyone in this world ever could.

To the girls who filled my heart with nothing but love no matter where life took us, I thank you. I thank you for the beautiful memories you have helped me create that I carry with me each and every day. I thank you for filling my eyes with tears when I explain to people, now three years out of high school you are what I remember most, because you are the ones who have changed my life.

Thank you for all the little things, like singing "Sweet Child Of Mine" at the top of our lungs in the locker room before each game. For remembering what it's like to jump up and hit the quote above the door before running out. For the times that we laughed so hard we couldn't breathe. For suffering through X drill with me because it was the longest three minutes of practice. For finding the humor in Dave's Gramma Mac jokes when we weren't moving fast enough, and for making it so impossibly hard to walk into the gym and not want you back. Want the game back. Want everything you gave me to be thankful for, back.

I could go on forever and ever, and still not say everything I wanted to, because there are not enough words in the world to truly describe how much I miss you, but I leave you with this. I hope that wherever you are in this big ol' world, that you remember that you once were and forever will be my teammates, my best friends, my sisters, and my teachers for all the life lessons thrown our way.

You taught me to be strong when I wasn't, and to love with all my heart. You taught me the importance of true friendship, and the beauty of the hard parts of life. You gave me a lifetime of things to be grateful for, and taught me to never be satisfied, because you can always be better. You made the game that I love with all my heart something that I never, ever wanted to give up. It is because of you that I am now the manager of the women's basketball team here at college, because I wasn't ready to give up that part of me that you taught me to love so much. I ask you to remember that you deserve everything you could ever wish for in the world because your friendship to me and the people you have become are outstanding, sometimes without you even realizing. Please never forget, as dysfunctional as we may have been at times, we were imperfectly perfect together.

I hope that this life is all that you could have wished for it to be, and that all your wishes have started to come true. I ask you today to keep me in your heart as you will forever be growing in mine. I love you all from the bottom of my heart, no matter the days between our encounters. Stay strong, stay beautiful, and forever remain my wolf pack.

Love,

The Teammate Who Loves You Forever