Dear Best Friend,
We haven't been close for too long. We had our reasons freshman year of high school to keep ourselves distant, and it only grew from there. There were brief moments along the line where we were friendly, but not friends. I have to admit, the biggest reason was because of a boy. I'm not proud to admit that I lost myself in a boy who didn't deserve half of what I gave him. In losing myself, I lost you, and you lost a close friend in my boyfriend at the time. When he eventually shattered my heart, you were there to pick up the pieces.
That breakup brought me to new lows, but in losing one person, two new people walked into my life. To some, I must look like a perpetual third wheel, but I wouldn't change the role you and your boyfriend have played in my life because you both have helped me grow and shape myself into who I am today.
You helped me put myself back together, and I repaid you in the worst of ways: I broke your trust. That should have been the end of our friendship, but we retreated into our corners and eventually began the long process of mending our friendship. This time much more was at stake. Our fragile friendship could have broken in an instant. I couldn’t tell you the exact moment I knew we would be okay, but when it happened we were even closer than before.
I keep trying to figure myself out and grow, and as I do and as I transitioned to college, I made mistake after mistake. Each one hurt you in different ways, and each drove a wedge between our friendship–or it should have. I will always appreciate how you told me I was just learning, even if it was in the wrong way. We fought, brought out our attitudes, and made up. I hate fighting with you, but we don’t really fight often. When we do fight it’s the worst thing ever, but we cool off and come back to talk about it.
Now as college freshmen, we have come a long way. I never imagined that we’d be this close four years ago when I uninvited you to my birthday party (because I’m that petty, but so are you). We may be 174 miles away, but our friendship has never been stronger. Our bonds have been tested time and time again, but we've always ended up back together.
I would have understood if you left, and I gave you every reason to, but I will be forever grateful that you stayed.
Love,
The Girl Who's Glad You Never Left
