To my guy best friend;

People say I shouldn't categorize you as my "guy" best friend and rather call you simply my "best friend," but I can't, because it's different and we all know it.

You are the one I text when I need an inside into my man's mind. You are the sanity that talks me off the ledge when I think too far into a text he sent me. Thank you. Thank you for explaining over and over what how a man's mind works.

Thank you for being there and dealing with the drama that is our life. For taking the world head on with me and promising to never leave my side. Friends come and go, that is something we both learned the hard way. However, one thing has remained constant over the years was our friendship. We went from greeting each other in the hallway, not actually knowing the other's name, to roommates, confidants, and best friends.

Thank you for protecting me. For protecting my heart when I met the man of my dreams until you knew he was a keeper, for protecting me from the spiders that found their way into our world at 2 a.m., and for protecting me from the "haters" that tried to bring me down. For reminding me that you were ready to attack the moment I told you "do it." For always having my back, thank you.

Thank you for giving me a laugh in a way that few could. Nothing with you is censored, a rare attribute to find anymore. Your determination to bring a smile to the faces of those you care about is one I will always admire. Thank you for playing my boyfriend when situations got weird and for always being ready with a wisecrack when the old men at gas stations thought we were dating. Thank you for indulging me when I complain about eating too much food and then gladly handing me more.

Thank you for allowing me to be one of the people you come to with the problems of your life. School, love, and otherwise. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be for you what you have always been for me. A shoulder the lean on, an ear to listen, a friend to always be there.

You are truly one of a kind. I consider myself lucky each and every day that I get to call you not only one of my best friends but my family too. Life has a funny way of leading people into our lives in the moment that we need it most. That is clearly what happened between you and I. I could never be more grateful for that.

You accepted my family, my soulmate, and myself with open arms. You are the best friend, best listener, and the best person I know.

So thank you for being the Joey to my Phoebe, the Schmidt to my Jesse, the Ted to my Lily... You get the point.

Sincerely,

A Grateful Friend