Dear former best friend,

I'm sorry that you gave up on our friendship. I'm sorry that you didn't believe that I was good enough anymore. But most importantly, I'm sorry that you're missing out on the best friendship ever offered to you. All friendships have their ups and downs, but you decided to leave when it got slightly uncomfortable for you. After years of being the best friend to you I could possibly be, you gave up on what was an amazing friendship. Years of happiness and laughter all came to an end and it was your decision, and your decision alone. I fought, but you clearly were not strong enough to fight for the friendship you claimed to have cherished for years.

We both have changed, and I know that I have changed for the better, and do not regret anything that has happened in my life. Throughout our friendship, we both have changed and graciously accepted the changes as part of each other's lives. Until now. Your change was drastic and hurtful. You broke down the one person who was always on your side, even if you were wrong. Your change caused you to spite and hurt the girl who stood by your side through thick and thin. You became the person who you claimed to hate; you became what you promised you would never be. So many promises were broken. So many hurtful words were said. So many memories that were in store for us, have now vanished into thin air.

There are many things which will remind me of you, things that used to make me smile and laugh, now make me sigh and frown. There are pictures of us, which used to be my favorite photos, that have now been deleted off my phone or ripped from my wall. There's a tattoo on my back, matching the identical one of your back, that itches and fades, a reminder of our fading friendship. But none of these will cause me regret. Our friendship, and you, were such a fundamental part of my life for ten plus years. The original plan had been to keep you as a fundamental piece to my puzzle for the rest of my life, but unfortunately I've lost that piece. Fortunately for me, I can find new pieces to fill the hole you left. It won't be the same, but it will be beautiful and important and create happiness for me.

Although you've caused me great pain and sadness, I will never stop caring about you. Not in the same way as before, but I will always have a special spot in my heart, meant just for you and our memories, the happy ones at least. Even after you hurt me, I still want you to be happy.

So thank you. Thank you for showing me that I don't deserve to be treated less than. Thank you for showing me that true friendship is something I deserve and helping me to find my true friends. Thank you for ending our friendship, where I was putting in ten times the amount of effort that you were. By ending the love our friendship had, you forced me to love myself. For that, I will always be grateful to you. I will not look back on our friendship harshly, but rather fondly. The pictures and memories tell a happy tale, but all stories must come to an end eventually. Thank you for a great story, but it's time I've started a new one, one where I will be appreciated and loved how I should be.

Love,

The best friend you won't get back