Elbert Hubbard said, “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” But what about a best friend?Â
You are more than a friend. You’re my sister, my partner-in-crime, my other half. You know me better than I know myself. You know what I like, what I love, what I hate. You applaud my passions and tolerate my faults. You’re there for me, always. And it’s not always about what we say, or what we do – because you, by yourself, is enough. You, with your smile, your laugh, your friendship – it’s more than I deserve. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’re stronger than ever. Because there’s no me without you. You’re part of me – part of me, my life, my family, my entire world.Â
You’ve been there for the ups and downs. You’ve seen me at my worst – you’ve been there to hold my hand. You’re some kind of second mother/sister/therapist/bodyguard all rolled into one. We’ve taken on the world, together, side-by-side. The truth is, I don’t think I could do it without you.Â
No. That’s wrong. I know I couldn’t do it without you.
They say you don’t get to pick who you’re related to. That’s true. But you do get to pick who your family is. Your real family. And you’ll always be my family. We’re closer than sisters could be, thicker than any thieves. You know all my secrets, all my wild ambitions. You support every one of my craziest fantasies. What would I do without you? I guess I’d have to watch Rent and Titanic on my own, on the couch, with a pint of ice cream and no one to cry with. I’d have to learn to take care of myself. I’d have to dole out my own advice. I’d have to scheme and dream – all on my own.
Who would I text when I can’t sleep? Who would I FaceTime until 2AM, just because we can? Who would talk me through every family crisis, every wardrobe malfunction, every anxiety attack? I tell you all the secrets I can’t tell my mom. You know everything – everything about me, probably better than I know myself. You know I tend to overreact, but you don’t judge me for it. You never have. You’ve been there for the smallest victories and the biggest catastrophes.Â
College hasn’t changed us. Not one bit. We might be busy with school, work, family and relationships, but we always have time for each other when there’s a minute to breathe. I know I complain more than I should, but you always listen. Without hesitation, in fact. I can’t thank you enough for that.Â
You’ve been there for the heartbreaks, the disappointments, even the failures. You know about the boy who broke my heart, and we both know you’ll hit him with your car if you ever get the chance. You were there when I didn’t get into that dream school, when I flunked that exam. You cheered me up and brought me ice cream. You took me dancing when I wanted to cry – you made me breakfast when I crashed on your couch.
We have these plans, you and I. To travel, to see the world. To be neighbors someday (because, honestly, I need to be near you – who else is going to tell me if my shoes match my dress? And let’s be honest, pictures won’t do it justice. Ever. I mean, we’re going to need to be close so we can have movie marathons, and yes – no, I’m not kidding – sleepovers. We’ll be the twenty-somethings watching Friends in our pajamas, inside a pillow-fort.Â
Every good TV show, every good movie, has a dynamic duo. That’s us. I think we could have our own show, and honestly, I think people would watch it. Because we’re the kind of people that laugh so hard we start to cry. We have our own jokes, our own routine, our own language – on second thought, maybe the TV show isn’t such a great idea. The point is, you get me. You understand me. We understand each other. You know when I’m feeling down, the standard “I’m fine” is never enough for you. You just know better. And I’m glad you know better, because sometimes I feel like no one understands me. But you always do. You always know what to do and what to say. I don’t know how, but you’ve perfected the art of tending to me, myself, and I.Â
I don’t know where you came from, or even how we managed to find each other: seven billion people, and you’re my favorite.
The truth is, you might not be my past – but you’re my present. And my future. The truth is, none of this would make any sense without you. We fit together like puzzle pieces. I don’t think any of us are meant to walk this world alone, and I’m so lucky it’s you I get to have by my side. Near or far, you’ll always have a special place in my heart. The fact is, I’d do anything for you. You’re my buddy, my pal, my #1.Â
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you. Friendship is one of the most rewarding things life has to offer, and I refuse to take it for granted. I refuse to take you for granted. You, my best friend, my sister, my partner-in-crime. Even when all I can see is the worst in me, you still see the best. You remind me who I am, and who I want to be. You make me a better person. And while the world might tremble at the sight of the two of us (because, honestly, together we’re a force to be reckoned with), I know there’s no one I’d rather laugh and cry with.Â
Thank you. For being you. For being the most wonderful best friend I could ever ask for. For agreeing – albeit silently – to be part of my crazy life.Â
Sincerely,
Your Best Friend (AKA, Your Sister-from-Another-Mister, Your BFF, Your Confidant, Your #1 Fan)
P.S. I hope you don’t mind that I took a screenshot of your latest Snapchat…