To my old friend:

It's been years since we've talked, but I recently found out that I'll never get that opportunity again. You're the first of the people I went to school with to cross the golden gates. It's still so shocking to me; it doesn't even feel like it happened. But it did.

I never got to say goodbye to you. I don't know why we stopped talking. We didn't have a fight or a falling out; we kind of just drifted our separate ways after high school ended. We were on good terms -- as far as I know. We just... stopped talking.

I want you to know that you were a great friend -- not just to me, but to everybody. You were a joy to see in the hallways in school. You were always laughing, always being goofy and always up to talk to anybody. You were always so kind to everybody you encountered, and that's one of the main reasons you were so memorable.

I don't know if you've changed, because I haven't known you these past few years -- and for that, I am sorry. From mutual friends have told me, I can guarantee that you were the same lovable person that we all came to know! I have nothing but fond memories of you and good things to say about you.

I'm sorry that I let us part ways. You were a true friend, and I had the opportunity to continue our friendship. That is a lost opportunity now. It's something that I deeply regret, and something that I cannot undo. I also cannot undo the fact that I never said goodbye.

So, that is what I want to do. I want to say goodbye to you. I want to apologize for drifting away from our friendship. I want to apologize for never catching up with you. Most of all, I want to tell you goodbye. I will miss you, my old friend. Hopefully we will see each other again someday. I will never forget you. Have fun in paradise.

Goodbye.