This is a letter to the friends I’ve made all over the world who are no longer in my life. Growing up all over the world was amazing. But moving every two or three years and leaving friends behind was hard, but it grew the hardest when I had to leave behind friends I knew were only here for a season of my life.

Remember when we sat on the swings at recess and talked about how our sisters would be good friends if they could ever meet? Or the adventures we had in your backyard which we transformed into another world? I still remember the evening we decided to go Christmas Caroling in summer on the night of the block party. And then I moved back to America.

Do you remember playing war at recess and feeling alive, since every day, in those short 15 minutes, we were powerful. What about when my family was invited over for lunch and even though you only spoke Turkish you showed me around the orange orchard behind your house. I still think about you and wonder how you are doing.

In Germany, I was the girl you considered one of your best friends. Once I got into the car that early summer morning with my family to take us to the airport, you and our “brothers” ran down the street with the car. You held my sister’s hand out the window as we all yelled “goodbye!” and “tschüss!” I blinked back tears knowing it would be hard to stay in touch with you all.

A few of you I didn’t know very long but we became fast friends anyway. Sitting together during Algebra 1 always made math seem more enjoyable. And you with your British pronunciation of words taught me so much in the times we were together.

Oh I’ve written you letters. You lived on a horse ranch when we were young and years later I wrote you a letter and hoped you received it and that it made you smile. You were always so kind to me and I still remember laughing hysterically with you at your house while we watched The Emperor’s New Groove.

Do any of you remember your memories with me? Do you reminisce over them and smile to yourself remembering how we were great friends? I know I do.

I want you to know you cross my mind. Sometimes a thought from my collection of memories plays in the front of my mind and you’re in it. I smile because they leave me with that sweet melancholy feeling that fills your heart, just like the feeling a soft, beautiful song creates.