I remember when I met you. I thought you were the coolest person in the world. I couldn’t believe that we were going to be attending the same middle school as seventh graders that fall. I was a new girl in town, and I didn’t know anyone, but you fearlessly opened up your arms and your heart to me, and for that, I will always be grateful for that.

I remember the bus rides with you, when we would make up silly songs and talk about how we thought the world really worked. Honestly, we had no idea. We were so young and naïve, and I shake my head now about our sad, misguided preteen truths.

I remember feeling so sly when we would be sitting next to each other, but text each other so that no one would know we were talking about them. We would look up from our screens at each other and giggle as if there was some big, secret inside joke.

I remember endless sleepovers, when we would talk about the boys that we liked, the latest trends and about God. We would play with those Littlest Pet Shop toys and dream of our futures, of our jobs, and of our crushes as our husbands, and how we would have houses next door to each other so that our kids could be best friends too.

I remember our first fight, over school, of all things, and how good it felt to have your forgiveness long past bed time when I ran over to your house to apologize. I remember both of our tears and that long hug we shared when we made up from our spat, and how I knew then that no matter what, you would always be there for me.

I remember thinking that we were inseparable, and that nothing would ever change between us, but I guess life has other ideas of what it wants to do. We went to different high schools, and I moved across the country. For a while we kept in constant contact, but we both got new friends, new dreams, and new agendas. We moved on with life.

Now, it’s been four years since I’ve seen you, but I still think about you often and wonder where you are in your life. Are you struggling with this whole “adulting” thing as much as I am? Are you fighting for your dreams? I still pray for you, and for your family, and for your relationships. I pray that it’s God’s will to give you the best of everything, and to make all of your hopes and wishes your reality.

I look back on those times that I spent with you those years ago back in middle school, and I thank God for giving me such an awesome best friend. You showed me what true friendship looks like, and what it means to never give up on someone. You showed me how to stick to my guns even when most of the people around me wanted to see me fail. I remember all of the times you stood up for me; those moments were when I knew that someone would always be on my side.

Thank you for showing me that a good friendship means that you feel safe to be your goofy self, and not have to face judgement for it. Thank you for giving me another home to go to after school or on the weekends where I knew that I was loved and treasured just as much as if it were my own. Thank you for expanding my view of family, and showing me that there is more to that word than just blood. Thank you for loving my parents and my siblings, and for being willing to spend time with all of us without expectations.

We’ve talked a few times since we went our separate ways, and it’s felt like home. So much has changed in our lives and in ourselves as people, but there’s always that middle school part of us that will stay the same forever. All of our old jokes that we shared, all of the secrets that we’ve kept and all of the potential within ourselves that we’ve just begun to tap into.

You might not be my best friend anymore, but you will always hold a special place in my heart. I will always love you and your family with that same love of a wide-eyed seventh grader, and I’ll always be here cheering you on from a far, rejoicing in your victories, and mourning for your losses.

We’ve moved past those crazy, middle-school cliques and have transitioned into this beautiful lifelong friendship that picks right back up again no matter how far away from each other we are, and no matter how much time has passed between us.

I love you and miss you, and I look forward to when we can make some more life-long memories with each other. My best wishes to you!

Love,

Your middle school bestie.