Dear best friend,

Hi Sam. It's been 11 years now since I've seen your face in person. 11 years since I heard you laugh. 11 years since we ran around the playground together. I miss you.

I was just writing to you to let you know all the things I've been doing and wishing you were still here for them.

Well, 4 years ago we could officially drive a car. 3 years ago we could officially see an R rated movie. 2 years ago we could finally stay out all night with no curfew. In one year, we could meet at the bar and have a drink.

I wish you were there for the awkward middle school years. I needed my best friend by my side. Girls are mean in middle school, but you never were. You would've always been by my side.

I wish you could've experienced our first and last day of high school together. We would've gone to every football game together, decked out in blue and white. We would've had sleepovers multiple times a week talking about boys, doing our nails and hair, staying up watching movies like we used to as kids. We could've Facetimed in the mornings to discuss our outfits for the day even though we both know we probably would've ended up in sweats. The girls would still hate us for being friends with all the boys but we wouldn't care because we'd never be the ones for drama. We could've continued playing softball together all those years, would've had the best teammate by my side.

I wish you were here when it was time to look at colleges. I know they say not to go to school with your best friend but we would've. We would've visited all the schools together and spent hours debating about which ones were better. We would've sat down drinking coffee and eating bagels on Saturday mornings filling out our applications. And we would've opened our letters together and enjoyed the excitement of being accepted with each other.

I wish you were there when it was time to buy things for our dorm, deciding which colors and theme. We would've moved in together and experienced being on our own with each other. We probably would've done some things we shouldn't, but never getting into too much trouble. We'd fight but we'd never stay mad. We trade off who got up early to make the coffee and breakfast that morning and who got to make dinner that night. We'd keep each other motivated on the late nights cramming for an exam. We would make sure to still have fun on the weekends no matter what the week entailed, even if that meant staying in for a movie night.

I wish you could be here so we could watch each other grow old. We could see who each other fell in love with, be there for the heartbreaks and also be there when we got to be each other's maid of honor and pick out a dress. We would always live close, so we could watch each other's families grow. Our kids could grow up best friends like we would have.

I wish you were here on the days I need my best friend. I wish you weren't taken so soon. I know it's God plan for you but that doesn't make me miss you any less. I remember running to find a notebook as soon as I found out you were gone, jotting down every last thing I knew about you, afraid that I might forget. I know you're watching over me, knowing I miss you every day. You were my best friend and you will never be replaced, but you already knew that. When we said best friends forever, we knew we meant it. Even as nine-year-olds, we could see our friendship would never fade.

Every day that passes is another day closer to when I get to see you again. I'll never be afraid when it's my time to go because I know you'll be waiting for me at the gates of Heaven.

I love you with all my heart and I miss you more than words could ever explain. I know I only had a short time with you on Earth, but we'll have eternity together someday.

I'll see you soon,

Your Best Friend Ashley

P.S. To everyone reading this, hug your best friend a little tighter when you see them. Call them and tell them how much they mean to you. Because if I have learned anything, it's that you never know what could happen so cherish the time you have now. Thank God for every day that you have with them and never take it for granted.