Dear Best Friend,

As I sit here again tonight, I can't help but reminisce about my person. Yes, you -- you know who you are. I want to tell you how much I miss you but, more importantly, how much I want to thank you.

Thank you for always being there for me when I needed you. Thank you for being there when I thought I didn’t need you, but, good lord, I did. Thank you for being my sister, but when it came to my ridiculous habits, my mother. Thank you for caring when I didn't necessarily know who else did. Thank you for letting me ugly-cry in front of you, over and over. And for trying to reassure me that I still looked OK. Thanks for being the reason I tend to cry since I love you so damn much. Thank you for always going and getting fat with me, and for always being down for obscene amounts of food. Thank you for filling my years with laughter and endless cherished memories.

No matter how many stupid mistakes I made, thank you for always being supportive even though we both know that you were secretly thinking, “I told you so.” Thank you for standing beside me at all my best moments and, more importantly, for still being there at rock bottom. Thank you for your guy advice (even when I didn’t listen). Thank you for always knowing what is right for me. Thank you for being there when others weren’t. Thank you for guarding my back when I wasn’t watching and for protecting me from pain. Thank you for being there for me at all times and for allowing me to grow and develop into the person I am today.

I am forever indebted and grateful that you have shaped who I am and allowed me to see my true self. There is not a day I do not miss you. I miss your weird "Harry Potter" obsession, your disgusting burping habit, and your social awkwardness. Yet those memories are ones that all make me feel right at home. I miss our long conversations and our stupid jokes. I miss how, no matter who was in the room, as long as we were together we could conquer anything and anyone. I miss how you would just show up wherever I was, and we would accomplish absolutely nothing.

Yet, I would do anything to have those moments just a few times a week because it was times like those in which I really got to know you, my best friend. I miss your sarcastic comments about everything I said and I miss you judging me out of pure love.

I miss having my best friend with me during college, and I miss being able to physically turn to you at any moment for advice. Although we have not been able to talk as much as we once thought we would this past year, I know that if I called at 3 a.m. in tears, you would still pick up and help with whatever I needed, and I hope you know I would never hesitate to do the same. I know life is a mess and that you are crazy busy, so I know you need someone there for you, even if you don’t always want to admit it. I know it is not always easy being apart, but know that not a day goes by that I don’t want a text or call from you, no matter how serious or how stupid, because I miss you.

And more importantly, I need you. We have both made new friends among our new journeys, and they are people that I am so blessed to know. But I still envy the people in your new life, for they are just getting to know the most incredible girl to ever come into my life. You have so much ahead of you now, and I cannot wait to be there for every step of the ride. I love you for being my best friend, my sister, my counselor, and always my number one supporter.

I love you for every up and down we have gone through, and for the friendship that we have created. I can’t imagine to begin where I would be in this life without the guidance of your friendship and the strength of your love. Distance is rough, but please never forget your crazy friend who loves the hell out of you and would do absolutely anything in this world for you. Never forget to take a glance next to you because I am always right beside you, forever and always.

Love always,

Your High School Best Friend