An Open Letter to My Childhood Best Friend To my childhood best friend, 1 I owe1 you my life. I am not sure how I can ever repay2 you for all that you have done for me but I need you to know what you mean to me. You have been my therapist3, partner4, and sister for the last seventeen years and I need you to know that our lives having grown separately5 does not mean I need you any less. You were with me during the greatest moments of my life and took care of me through the worst. You are the person whose absence6 would leave a huge gap7 in my life. 2 Seventeen years ago we met. Over those years, we have managed8 to survive9 our middle school years, trying to find ourselves in high school and our first efforts at “adulting10” in college. But more importantly we have survived first loves, celebrated11 great successes, and outlasted12 every other friendship we have ever had. 3 My life is a mess13 in many ways. I am crazy, embarrassing14 and sometimes I don’t even know what to do, but you always do. Even now when we live apart, you still manage to be the person that I can always turn to. It is always you that is on the other end of the phone. 4 I continue to be blessed15 to have been able to survive college with you as well. Four years ago, when we said goodbye I was scared16 we would drift17 apart18. The thought19 of being apart for four years terrified20 me. But we made it through. Our friendship grows stronger as we grow older. I think over time we have both realized that we will never be completely separate from each other. We grow together and will continue to do just that. 5 You have been my life’s constant21. While everything around me is getting crazier by the second, you have been there to keep me grounded22 and remind23 me of who I am. You will forever be my person to call in an emergency24, depend25 on in times of need and just look to for some joy. You are my dearest friend and I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me throughout26 my life. Love always, Your best friend