Dear random roommate,

I heard all the horror stories about random roommates: the crazy fights, the clashing personalities. I saw the look of concern on people's faces when they asked who my roommate was going to be and I told them I didn't know, that I would be meeting you the day we moved into the very small space we would be sharing for nine long months.

Those wise, seemingly all-knowing, and definitely well-meaning people all told me the same thing: you don't have to be friends, you don't even have to like each other, you just have to get along well enough to live together. They said just don't expect to be best friends.

And I didn't expect to be best friends with you. But I did hope. Just a little.

The day I found out your name, I went straight to social media to see what you looked like, and more importantly, if I could wear your clothes. It was a weird feeling knowing I was going to be living with you without really knowing you at all. I passed my phone around to my friends asking them what they thought, and with their help, I finally sent that first awkward message.

I didn't know what to think after those first few texts back and forth. It felt so weird to be talking to a complete stranger about how we were going to decorate the room we'd be sharing. I'll confess I spent some time wishing I had decided to room with a friend instead rather than take this chance.

The day I finally met you was so exciting, strange and nerve-wracking all wrapped up together. Was I supposed to hug you? What if you didn't like to be touched? Oh no, what if you never wanted to cuddle? Am I supposed to pretend I don't know all the stuff I found out about you from stalking you on Facebook for the entire summer? Are you going to like me? Am I going to like you?

I'll say a thank you to our school for hosting all those horrible Welcome Week activities, because since we had no one else they forced us to stick to each other like glue and bond over the awkwardness of far too many "getting to know you" games.

Those first few weeks were hard, sharing a room with someone for the first time in my life, trying to keep everything clean, trying to stay out of your way, and wondering when this "honeymoon phase" was over if we would be friends or just roommates.

I am so thankful that we proved everyone who warned against random roommates wrong. I am so thankful that we craved City Cafe cake at all the same times, I am so thankful that you'd watch Food Network with me, I am so thankful that you were chill when I left my shoes everywhere and forget to take out the trash. I am so thankful that you let me crawl in your bed and cry when I was sad.

And I am so very, endlessly thankful that I didn't room with one of my pre-existing best friends, because now I have a new one.