Dear long distance best friend,
How are you? I miss you, and I hope life is giving you all the amazing opportunities I know you deserve. I’m so proud of who you’ve become, and I’m especially proud of the fact that we’ve both changed immensely since the awkward photos that remind us of who we were when we met. Braces and middle parts. Fun times, indeed. Thank God that didn’t last, but you know, in a weird kind of way it did. You’re still my best friend just as much, if not more, than those fateful elementary school days. When we met, something amazing happened. We discovered that we both had a ridiculous love for Harry Potter and that was enough to seal the deal. Look at us now, we’ve come so far and grown to love so many things together. We’ve also grown independently as well, which is awesome. Somewhere along the way I decided I wanted to study science and you had your heart set on arts and languages. Anyone who met us now would probably wonder what we possibly had in common. All it would take is one of our signature looks, or the slightest mention of one of our stupid inside jokes, and suddenly they’d see how close we really are. They’d see how much I love you, how going to different schools cemented our friendship in an unbelievable way, and how there was never a doubt that we’d make it work. They’d see how 1,089 miles seems like nothing compared to what we’ve been through together. They’d see how sometimes absence really does make the heart grow fonder. They’d see what a fantastic thing our long distance friendship is.
However, they wouldn’t see how hard it can be. Sometimes it feels so unfair when all you want to do is split a pizza and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s with you best friend, but you have to settle for FaceTime. It’s so hard to see pictures of you with your “there” friends. I know they are wonderful people; they must be if you chose them. It’s silly, but I’m jealous. It’s a complicated feeling, really. I know you love them, and they’ll take good care of you, but it’s not fair that I can’t be there, and it’s hard not to resent them just a little. It never gets easier to say goodbye, either. All of a sudden, one day it was “see you at Thanksgiving” instead of “see you tomorrow.”
But we do what we can. I always smile when mid-semester hits and I wake up to a text asking me exactly what day I come home so we can plan our extravagant reunion. Until then, I call you for hours at a time, even though I hate talking on the phone, because texting you just doesn’t seem good enough. I would take a bullet to keep our streak on Snapchat, because let’s be real that’s seriously impressive. I sometimes look up airfare rates and train tickets just out of curiosity, just in case I could pack up this instant and be partying with you tomorrow morning. I memorize your schedule as well as my own so I know exactly when I can talk to you.
It’s hard, I won’t say it’s not because being your best friend is the easiest thing to do but going weeks on end without seeing your face is tough. I know it won’t get easier, either. You’re going to take that summer job at school next summer and I won’t get to come home to my best friend for the summer. Eventually, we’ll be real adults and we’ll have to plan things like wine tasting pajama parties months in advance. But then again, it’s us. We always pull it together somehow. It doesn’t mean I don’t miss you like crazy, it just makes it that much sweeter when we’re finally reunited, and I promise to always hug you a little tighter than the last time. I love you more than anything. I’m constantly amazed by the things you accomplish. Even from a thousand of miles away, I’m so proud to call you my best friend.
