Where do I begin? I know we’ve always been long distance best friends, but right now I seem farther away from you than I ever have before. You finally came to Boston just as I was leaving for Albany, and the irony is too real. Over the past four years of our friendship, we’ve grown so close and I know the distance won’t separate us in any way. Needless to say, I miss you more than I ever have before. Especially now at such a crucial time in life where we both are becoming independent and starting our own paths. I know you’re always there if I need to talk, but I wish you were here to hug me when I need it most. I wish we didn’t have to schedule times to see each others faces. I wish we both weren’t so busy all the time.

I remember the first day we met-at my first NCSY event back in Freshman year. I didn’t know that many people, and you pretty much knew everyone. I was sitting by myself contemplating how I was going to start making friends, and then somehow you were there and everything just clicked in place. From then on we’ve been inseparable and so many amazing things have happened since then. I can’t believe how far we’ve come.

Looking back, I’m realizing how I never would have even gotten here if it wasn’t for you. You’ve done so much for me and helped shape the person I am today. And I want to say thank you for everything you’ve done.

You were always there to motivate me when I wanted to just give up. There were times when I thought I was worthless and that my life would amount to nothing. I would be struggling in school or with my friends or with my family. And every time I felt like that, you talked me out of doubting myself and made me pick up the pieces and get my shit together. I still feel that way sometimes, but I now know that talking about it with you will always make it better.

You made me feel comfortable with who I was. I used to second guess everything and overthink even the slightest details. I always felt like somehow I would mess everything up, and I would try my best to avoid it. But whenever we were together, I didn’t care about any of that because I knew you didn’t care if I said something stupid and that you wouldn’t judge anything about me. The more comfortable and open I was able to get with you, the more I was able to do the same with other people. And that continues even today.

You always made me happy and excited. I could’ve been having the worst day in the world, and somehow you’d be able to make me laugh. I don’t know how you did it but you did. And when I’d be having one of the best days, you’d make it even better. No matter what we were talking about it was always a good time. And when we actually got to see each other in person we’d be having the time of our lives even if we were just watching Netflix and eating Sour Patch Watermelon’s and Crispy M&M’s.

You brought me some of the closest and best friends I could ask for. When you move on to college and start the next chapter in your life, people get left behind. It may not be intentional, but it happens. On the opposite end, there's those few people you keep in touch with and actually want to see-and a I have a lot of those people because of you. We may all be in different places right now-SUNY Albany, Boston University, Quinnipiac, UMass Amherst, Israel, and Germany-but we’ve managed to stay just as close as we were before, and I know we’ll be in each others lives forever.

I’d go on, but the list is never ending. There are so many things you’ve done for me, and I’d never be able to put it all into to words even if I tried. With all that being said, I just want to say how lucky am I to call you my best friend.

If you ended up on the other side of the country, or even of the world, we’d make it work. I know we would. No matter how far away we are from each other, I know I’ll always be there for you and you’ll always be there for me.

Love you forever and always,

Your best friend.