College friends are amazing. After you get through the people you leech yourself to in the first few weeks of school as you navigate your life alone, the friends that stick by you and the friends you make in their own time are some of the most valuable friendships you will ever have. When you’re miles away from the people you are used to seeing every day of your life, college friends fill a gap and become more than just friends… they become family.

High school friends are amazing. Some you may have had longer (and these friends are amazing too), but a lot of the time we try to reinvent ourselves in high school. Whether this is for the better or the worst, we tend to find new people to spend all our time with. We’ve outgrown the constant supervision of parents, and flee to friends as a mode of escape from a life we think has become oppressive. Like college friends, we latch on to these new people in the first few weeks of school. They may change or they may grow away. They have an immeasurable influence on you, whether you want them to or not, and they help you to grow into the young man or woman that you become. The best of these friends stick with you for the rest of your life, maintaining this long distance relationship across time, state lines, and even oceans.

But this letter is for the rarest and most influential friend of all. Very few are lucky to have friendships like this: they stand the test of time, schools, relationships, and distance. This is a letter to the friend I made as a young child, who has stuck with me through everything life could possibly think to throw at us. We’ve made it through illness, broken bones, obnoxious brothers, school changes, puberty, image issues, sports rivalries, and relationships. And we’ve made it out stronger each time.

A true friendship is built on time and laughter. We don’t have to go anywhere fancy or entertaining to have a good time. We don’t even have to talk. We can go weeks without texting and never miss a beat when we’re back together. Some of the best times we have together are movie and TV marathons, not even needing to interact at all as we watch the stories play out on the screen. Your family is my family; I’m not even allowed to knock anymore but instead walk right in the front door. (Come to think of it, I’m basically your Kimmy Gibbler!) I know all your siblings’ birthdays, and I have my own personalized utensils at your house.

You’ve seen me at my lowest, and I’ve seen you at yours. Any major problem one of us faces, we always end up turning to the other for advice. We celebrate together, we work through life’s obstacles together, and we’ve even failed together sometimes. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I know I don’t say it enough, but you are more than a friend. You’re my sister.