To My Friend,
Everybody has a friend that changed their lives. And as I encompass everybody, I have that person too. Specifically, her name is LaNae Fluellen, and although we did not meet until the summer after my senior year of high school, she has affected my life in ways she can’t even comprehend. She became my best friend overnight, however she is well beyond her years. She has a tenacity for life that is incomparable to anything you’ve ever seen. She is passionate and loving. She cries over really irrational things sometimes, and she loves hard. She forgets to take care of herself and sometimes I have to send her a text to take some time for herself.
She opened my eyes to life. Although we are miles apart the life lessons she taught me will be unforgettable. Her term of “rad” has now become a part of my vocabulary. She’s an avid supporter of Hilary Clinton and loves Vampire Diaries. Her snap chats bring smiles to my face daily. But while she was just being herself, she taught me more about life than I was able to comprehend from my mere eighteen years.
Most of all, she taught me how to love myself. She taught me that if I am comfortable, I looked good as hell. If I wanted to wear Nike shorts and Chacos everywhere, that was completely acceptable; if I was happy, what else in the world mattered. People like her are the people in life that I should be thankful for and the contributions they have made in my life, as should you. Different backgrounds form you into different people, and when you collide at the perfect time, you’ll realize that each needed each other however you were unaware of the impact the other was going to have on you, and you should be forever grateful for that.
This is the type of relationship that will last for a lifetime. You have a person in your life that you met at the age of eighteen that will be in your wedding, she’ll know your husband, she’ll watch your children, and she will forever open your eyes to things bigger than yourself. She’ll remind you of the love she has for you, and the love God has for you. She’ll pick you up at the lowest moments you’ll have and hold your hand through the best times of your life. You can’t say she’s your best friend because those words don’t convey the impact she has fully had - she has changed your life. You’ll remember the day you first met and you’ll tell your kids stories of all the adventures you’ve had in all your years together.
These are the people in your life you need to thank. You have that one person that reading this has brought to mind. Whether your contact has been recent or has been distant, say thank you because you and I know how much she matters to you. And to my friend, I love and miss you dearly and this, in short words, is small in comparison to the things you have done for me. I want you to know, as I often remind you, you made a difference in my life. I know you're probably crying right now, but know this is just the beginning of our journey. Also, if you mess up our Snapchat streak, I will be upset. I love you.
Love,
The One Who Needed You
