A Thank You to the 'Friend' Who Introduced Me To My Real Friends

Hey there old pal,

I don’t even know how to thank you at this point. I know I’m grateful for everything we had, but the end made me want to never see you again.

You were my best friend—someone I thought cared about my well-being, someone I thought wanted me to succeed as much as I wanted you too. Boy, was I wrong.

Because of you, I thought all friendships were a game of “well, I did this better.” Because of you, I thought it was okay when friends didn’t make time for one another. Because of you, I thought it was okay that our friendship was a one-way street. Because of you, it took me a long time to be okay with who I was. (This sounds so much like Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You").

So at this point, I’d like the say thank you. Thank you for being my friend for three years, thank you for making me think you cared, thank you for finally showing your true colors. Thank you for leaving my life, so I could find my real friends, thank you for never making time for me, and for pushing me away. Thank you for not really caring about my problems and forcing me to get to know myself better, and to become stronger by myself. The strength I found during this time is why I was able to leave you behind.

Here is a final thank you, to you, my old friend—

Thank you for not being in my life anymore.

If you were still a part of my life, I would never have gotten to know the most amazing people I now call my friends.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for leaving and letting me leave you.

I will always love you and what you did bring to my life; and please know I am still, to this day, torn up over what happened. Please know that I am grateful to you, and I wish you the best in my life; I’m sad that all of our grown up plans will never happen, and I’m sad that I won’t be there for all of your great successes I know you will have.

There are so many times each day when I think of you and the plans we had—and I hope you find someone else who can do that with you. I hope you find someone who is as strong and independent as you—and I hope you treat them better than you treated me.

You will forever be in my heart, and one day I hope we can look back at this falling out and just laugh.

Thanks again, for letting me grow away from you,

Me

To my new friends, here’s a thank you letter for you,

Thank you for being there for me through one of the hardest parts of my life. Thank you for not running away and not pushing me away. Thank you for all the advice and late night talks that have gotten me through so much.

You all are the kindest, most selfless human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. These past nearly six months, y’all have shown me what friends really are; friends care, they don’t compete. Friends listen, they don’t talk over you. Friends try and help, not shove you to the back burner.

Thank you for pushing me in every aspect of the word; pushing me to better myself physically, mentally, and academically, (and thank you for pushing me to see how much cookie dough I can eat in one sitting). Thank you for studying with me until the sun rises, thank you for talking to me as snow fell, melted, then fell again. Thank you for going on pointless drives with me, just to blast Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. Thank you for being goofy with me, and doing the most stupid things.

Thank you for showing me that friendship can blossom out of almost nothing. Thank you for being you, and letting me be me. Thank you for helping me grow and for allowing yourself to grow with me.

To all of you, my wonderful new family, here is a final thank you from the bottom of my heart—

Thank you for filling up my heart every day with your love and laughter. I owe you guys the world, and I hope one day I can help you as much as you helped me.

Your biggest fan,

Me