Hi beautiful,

As I sit here watching you on social media living your best life, I have never been more proud of you. You have tons of new friends, you're doing well in school, and you still have time for little ole' me. I just want to remind you how much I love you and miss you every day because there is no way I can tell you enough.

Every day when I have something minuscule happen to me, you're the first person I want to tell. And you don't just listen because you have to, you actually want to hear about my day. Other times, we just sit on Skype while each of us does homework in silence. We passed the phase where talking to avoid awkward silences was necessary too long ago.

When I'm sick, your kind words and funny faces nurse me back to health. You know exactly what I need to make my tummy feel better as you suggest, "chicken noodle soup from panaenae". I appreciate that you know that I call Panera panaenae and that you use the term too.

Whenever you're stressed about an upcoming exam, race, or social endeavor, I just wish I could hug you tight and tell you how great you will do (even though I'm not a hugger, I know they make you happy). Not because I need to lie to you to make you feel better, but because you ALWAYS do perfect.

I love that you care about my opinion with your new school friends and that I know all of their names and secrets. They are basically my friends too at this point. I've met them on our long Skype calls and heard about your fights via long text rants. And I love that I still know enough about your life to make an informed decision about what you should do.

I'm excited to come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas not to see family (although I do love my family), but to see your crazy self. We will probably go back to college more sleep deprived than when we left, because of long nights talking about crazy memories and new plans we have for the future.

It's weird though, most people say that they found their lifelong friends in college, but I am blessed to have found mine in high school, and even, elementary school. I can't imagine any version of my life that you are not in. My future, no matter where it has me living or doing, has us calling each other when our kids do something stupid or to plan a reunion trip to Cataloochee Ranch.

You will always be the girl that I lean on when the ground beneath my feet starts shaking. And I know you will always be here to stabilize me or help me up after I have fallen. We have experienced the worst and best times together, and we stay strong through them all.

I ask myself almost everyday whether I will ever find another friend like you, and the answer is probably no. You have absolutely changed my life and even from 1,000 miles away you keep me on the right path making the decisions I would make if you were here. Because watching you living your best life makes me want to live mine too.

Love,

Your best friend from another school