I don't even know where to begin.

All of my first memories of happiness start with you. From the play dates, to the petty little girl fights we used to get into, almost every childhood memory I have involves you in some way. And for that, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Thank you so much for being my first best friend, and continuing to be my best friend. As weird as this may sound, (not that anything is weird between us anymore anyways), I truly believe that everyone is destined to find an instant connection with certain people around them. Sometimes that connection is with family, sometimes it is a romantic connection, and then there is the type of connection we have.

From the exact moment of meeting each other in the first grade, we just clicked. We grew together as a duo, we did everything together, and you were my partner in crime. Sometimes I try to imagine a life where I did not meet you, and it just is simply unfathomable to me. I do not know what I would have done without you there for me.

While you hold the title as my first best friend, you also hold another "first" title for me, my first heartbreak. When we reached the fifth grade, I received the devastating news that you were going to be moving to North Carolina, hundreds of miles away from me. I remember the last sleepover we had together, and watching you leave my house thinking that would be the last time I would ever see you again. I didn't know a 10-year-old girl could feel as depressed as I did that day.

But as time went on, we did not grow apart...we grew even closer. While we had to experience our teenage years together over social media and texts, we still managed to keep each other updated on our lives. Whether it was high school drama with other girls, or my boyfriend that was annoying me, you were the person I could call to vent to always.

Here we are now, at 21 years old, and still inseparable. I get to see you once a year now, and it is not nearly enough for me. I miss you so much, and I wish that I could see you everyday, like other "normal" best friends. But when I am missing you like that, I remember that is what makes our friendship so amazing. We do not have to talk every single day to still be best friends. We could honestly go months without talking, and we would still pick up where we left off. Out of the 365 days of the year, I can only see you for seven. I know that upsets you just as much as it upsets me, but just keep in my mind that is what makes us so unique. Not many other best friends would be able to do that, a majority of them would drift away from each other.

Thank you so much for not drifting away from me. Thank you so much for always being there for me. Thank you for being my best friend.

I love you so much.