Dear Melissa,

It's very common when you're growing up to learn about people and how they react to you and the things that you do. But it's completely different when you meet someone and they end up changing your life for the better. When I was only a mere fifth grader, going to a completely new school in a new city, I met a girl who I never knew would still be in my life, even after almost 10 years.

See, my childhood was filled with countless moves and many friendships made and lost. So to find someone who still stuck beside me when I left town was amazing to have. Not only did she stick behind me no matter at what cost, but we always found a way to stay in constant contact with one another. She was my rock and always helped me in my time of need. Both her and her family.

We've both grown up majorly in so many different ways. She has two beautiful and amazing daughters and a fiance, while I'm in school working on my master's degree in communications and journalism. Our lives have lead us astray from one another, but we still always find ourselves close to each other in our hearts.

It took a lot of getting used to not talking to her everyday or not being able to call her every evening and telling her about our days, but I realize that we're both growing up and going on about our lives, and I couldn't be any more proud of her for being such a fabulous mother and being so, so strong with her family. They've suffered so much and I'll always be beside her every step of the way.

I've got so many things to say—I mean, it's hard putting nine years of memories into one article. It's hard describing our weird, yet amazing friendship to anyone who isn't involved in it. No matter what we go through, we've always made it out of this crazy, insane thunderstorm that seems to surround us sometimes. But no matter how horrible the storm is, there's always a bright day ahead.

We aren't sure of what the future may hold, but I just hope you know that we were best friends during each other's awkward phase. There's no way you're getting out of this friendship with our awkward middle school pictures. You're stuck with me forever.

I love you, Chippy.