You're best friends. You have been for as long as you can remember. So long, in fact, that you don't even remember who was supposed to be the bad influence anymore. You've been friends so long that you've basically become the same person.

You used to laugh and giggle at each other's jokes. You used to finish each other's sentences. You used to lend the other whatever it was that they needed, no matter what and no matter when.

You used to care for each other. You used to love one another. You used to be there for each other. There was talk of your future kids calling the other "aunt" and of naming babies after each other. There were inside jokes for days on end and there were memories to last a life time. There are pictures from everything.

And then, suddenly, all of that disappeared. One day, you stop getting texts back. You stop trying to invite them anywhere because you know that the answer will be "I'm sick" or "I can't today" or "Sorry. I just don't feel like it". You know what's happening but you try to hold it off as long as you can.

You text them "Happy Birthday!" Followed by an exorbitant amount of exclamation marks and as many birthday related emojis as you can shove into a text message. It's sent with love as well as an invitation and a mention of a gift that needs to be dropped off. It's met with a clear and precise "Thanks."

"Thanks." You know it's over. The thing you've been trying to put off for months has happened. You've lost your best friend. You don't even know what happened. You stress over it. If they had just told you what was wrong. Or if you just knew why it happened. But you don't know, and you never will. Nine years of friendship are over and done with.

For months, you're distraught. They were your best friend. Your go to person. The one you call when you need someone. The one you text when you need a laugh or a distraction. Your rock. But, now? Now your rock is gone. And in its place is only emptiness and a feeling of something missing.

After a while, you realize that all of this obsessing and wondering what you could have possibly done wrong is wearing on you and on your soul. You realize that this isn't your fault. You were the one who tried. You were the one who kept the conversations going. You were the one in the end who was making the plans and figuring everything out. You were the one who was trying to salvage a friendship that you both had vowed would "last forever". Turns out, forever is a lot less than everyone thinks.

Suddenly, things from that time in your life don't mean as much anymore. And it's sad, really. Suddenly, the old jokes don't make sense anymore. Suddenly, memories are dark and make you feel sad instead of happy. Suddenly, you don't want those pictures anymore or anything that reminds you of them. You feel betrayed and everything hurts.

Don't get rid of anything. Keep it. Like a "boyfriend box" from all the movies. Put all of your collective "junk" into an old shoebox and shove it in the back of your closet. In years to come, these memories won't hurt as much and you'll be glad that you didn't rip up every picture you have or trash every stupid little note that you passed back and forth in class. Some day, in the future, you'll realize that you grew from the experience. But you've got to get there first, darling, so just hold on tight and let go.