To my old high school friends,
It's crazy to think that we were friends from 7th to 12th grade; that's six years of laughs, tears, embarrassing moments, embarrassing phases of our lives, and memories that fill our hearts with joy. For six years, you were all "my people." You were my go-to for everything; from giving me advice, to being my wing-women, those crazy sleepovers, random outings to Steak n' Shake at midnight, spontaneous road trips when we could all drive, and eventually the people I discussed my future with, I thought we would be friends forever. I thought we would go to college together, I thought you would be my bridesmaids, I thought we would grow old together and our children would be best friends; I thought you would all be in my life forever.
When we made one of the biggest decisions of our lives and decided where we were going to college and I realized we were all going different schools, I hoped our decisions wouldn't be the end of our long-lasting friendship. Sure, some people do stay friends forever, but with life's way of taking everyone down different paths, to different colleges, and sometimes halfway across the country, I had a feeling our long-lasting friendship would come to a close eventually.
When we walked out of high school as students for the last time, walked across the stage at graduation, hung out all summer, eventually packed our lives up into a few boxes for the new life awaiting us, and said our goodbyes, I soon realized that those moments and experiences were the final pages of a closing chapter and our collegiate life awaiting us was a new chapter ready to begin.
When college first started, we were curious about each other's lives and wanted to know every detail; who the cute guy in our math class was, whether or not we got along with our roommate, our first college party, the sorority or club we just joined, etc. We were all in a new place in our lives and wanted to feel as if we were still connected. As time passed by, we got busier and talked less. Before we knew it, we knew little to nothing about each other. Some of you kept in touch and other's were on their way to the future, myself included. At this point in time, we have new friends, new lives, and some of us are new people entirely. Through and through, I want you all to know something...
There are no hard feelings. I am not mad at you. I don't regret the six wonderful years of our friendship. Friendship is a two-way street and we had a great six years, but as we transitioned into the new chapter of our lives, we didn't follow each other into the new chapter. As you turned the page, I didn't make it in. When I turned the page to my new chapter, you didn't make it either. As always, I wish you nothing but the best. I hope you get everything you want and deserve in life because you truly deserve it. I hope you find true love, get the job of your dreams, and check off every item on your bucket list. In this book we call life, you may not be in my chapter right now and I may not be in yours. However, sometimes books bring back our favorite characters. Further down the road, you might become a main character again. Further down the road, you might make a cameo. Further down the road, our characters may be gone but never forgotten. Either way, I wish you the very best and I hope the closing chapter of your book is incredible. In the future, I know there will be turning points and experiences good or bad that you weren't expecting; just know that I am always here for all of you and I am always willing to make a cameo in a chapter of your life. We may become strangers as time passes by, but I see you. I still stalk your social media to make sure you're doing fine and living it up in college. We may be strangers, but I will always be your biggest fan.
Sincerely,
Your old high school friend
