The best thing about starting college is being able to finally leave behind the people you didn't have the strength to cut ties with in high school. The worst thing about college is being states away from the people you want in your life always. While FaceTime is a blessing and sharing respective stories about professors and nights out only serves to bring far away friends closer, there's a melancholic feeling that comes with not being able to text your closest friends, "Meet me at Starbucks in 15?"
There's also so much energy that goes into missing a person who's states away. It's the feeling of missing a familiar, everyday face, a deep conversation after a Mario Kart marathon. It's the feeling of turning around in the hallway and expecting a grin along with an "Ew, get away from me." When someone becomes a part of your life that you don't want to forget about as soon as you rush out of high school, they become a part of your life for real.
Without their presence, there is a void in your daily routine -- your inside jokes, your phrases, your insults, your fondest memories. Suddenly they're only applicable to a body that's countless miles away. The ground shifts beneath your feet and suddenly you need new one-liners, you need new diner excursions, you need to fill a hole that only a certain person fits the shape of.
The hole does not shrink or change shape, but the foundation that has been built forces you to replace nostalgia with a new emotion -- pride. In the best moments, all your precious memories and all those stupid group chat memes leave you feeling proud of the friendship you have built. You can't have them any closer, but you can handle being their biggest supporter from miles away.
Your heart swells up for every B they get on an impossible test. In fact, you pulled that all-nighter with them, the both of you studying through a Skype window that's been open for six hours straight. Every achievement of theirs only warrants an, "I told you you could do it." Every stupid boy and bad grade is yours to help them get over. You're the cheer squad, the nagging mother and the emergency damage control all in one.
And from miles away, from states away -- they're the same for you.
