Hi,

First of all, I miss you. I don't think that even needs to be said, but I'm going to say it anyway just in case. Even though I'm living vicariously through all of your Snapchats, Instagram posts, and Facebook location check-ins, that's still nothing compared to seeing your shining face everyday on campus. Getting your life advice or hearing your crazy stories over text or Facebook Messenger isn't the same. I can't physically run to you when I need you (or when I drunkenly see you at a party), and that sucks.

The weird thing is, I've kind of adapted to you not being here. Don't take that the wrong way at all. I want you here; but since you're gone, I had to learn how to cope. It's no longer weird that you're not sitting next to me in class or in our room or at a bar. You not being there is just a fact of life.

But then something will happen that will remind me of you, and I'll suddenly remember that something pretty big is missing in my life. I'll picture you bursting into our room or laughing with our friends at lunch or singing at the top of your lungs to a song we both know all the words to, and I'll recognize a hole that can't be filled. Sure, it's not like I'm alone on campus; but you certainly haven't been forgotten. You're not missing much, anyway. And if you do miss something big, I've probably already texted you about it at 4 a.m. your time (sorry about that) to let you know.

I'm sorry I don't actually talk to you enough. I'm sorry we don't text as often as we should. I'm sorry our endless promises of Skype dates haven't been fulfilled. I'm sorry that our primary mode of communication for the last few months has been Snapchat. I never wanted it to come to that. I would try to make excuses, but all I can really say is that life is busy and that I'm sorry. I'm still thinking of you, even though we don't talk as much as we should.

Have I also mentioned that I'm extremely jealous of all of the adventures that you're having? Seeing you abroad makes me wish that I was also on the other side of the world, because you make it blatantly obvious that you're new-found foreign lifestyle is kicking home's ass. How many pictures of different friends skydiving do I have to see before I feel the urge to try it for myself and jump off of a cliff? I promise I'm not actually bitter about you having adventures; I'm just excited for you. Keep exploring and living so that you can tell me all about it when you come back. I'll be disappointed in you if you don't have any wild stories or terrible decisions to share. I already know that you do. I'm just reminding you.

Also, don't get too attached to your new city because I actually do want you to come home. And when you come home, we are going to go nuts. I'll probably stare at you in complete awe after finally being in your presence for the first time in months, but then we are going to go nuts. And next year is going to be the best year yet. We'll listen to all of our throwback songs and eat in our terrible dining hall and slip right back into our old friendship. And I can't wait.

Sincerely,

Waiting for your plane to land