I love you. There is no other way to put it. I love spending every day together. I love that we hang out all the time, mostly at the house but sometimes we even go to the park.

That is really fun because you love it so much and it makes me so happy seeing you happy. You are the best part of me, and I know this for a fact because some people say they only come over the house just so they can hang out with you and take pictures of you. I love the deep conversations we have late at night when we are together, because they mean so much to me. You are such a good listener, but I wish you could learn how to tell me what is going on with you. I really wish there was a way that I could make you understand how important you are to me, besides hugging you really tightly and taking lots of pictures of you and with you, as I say "I love you" over and over again.

You mean so much to me. You always protect me and keep me safe. You stare at people when they walk by so they know you mean trouble, and sometimes you even yell at them if they don't get the message. My favorite time of the day is when I come home and open that door, and you are just there always waiting to greet me with excitement.

I'm going to miss that look you give me, you know the one. The all-important look that signals that you are ready to go out after a nice, long day of laying together on the couch.

You are also so strong. You have already gone through the process of me leaving for school once before, and the long days and months we spent apart from each other killed me, but I know it must have felt like even longer for you. Now, during my sophomore year, I know that it will be no easier for you just as it certainly won't be any easier for you.

We can do this, though. We can be strong together, knowing that we will see each other soon again. It might be a little longer for you, but I know when I finally come home and walk through that door and see your fluffy little tails wagging as you both run towards me, I know we will all be very happy campers. That's right, my best friend is my dog, and I don't have just one best friend, I have two. Jack and Lucy, I'm going to miss you guys so much. I'm not going to lie, that sad looks you give me as I walk out the door with all my things really gets to me and stays with me the whole ride to school. But I promise, I'll see you soon!