A brief letter to those long-lost friends who still matter

Friendship for me has always been somewhat of a challenge. I’ll meet people with whom I feel connected, but before I know it, we’ve both moved on. For a lot of people this may seem normal, but I’ve always longed for deeper connections than that. I used to dream up fantasies of road trips, and bonfires that I would have with a small intimate group of people. I still want those things, but as life progresses, I’ve come to terms with how rare that is.

I’ve also learned to cherish the connections I have made. Even when you move on, you never forget when someone’s made a positive impact in your life. Or you shouldn’t. It’s when things get hard that I must remind myself of the people I’ve known that do care, and the amazing friendships I’ve made in the past that made me the person I am today.

I wrote this back when I was a senior in high school. It was a time of transition and change in my life. Now that I’m a senior again (this time in college) and reflecting on all the friends I’ve made in school, I decided to revisit it.

For my friend,

I love you.

You’re my friend, though I may not know you very well anymore. You are my friend, and that’s all I care about. You were my friend when not many people were. You saw me when not many people saw me. You gave me hope, and confidence; that’s what keeps me going. If it weren’t for you and the time I knew you, I would not be where I am today. We may not speak anymore, but you’re the reason for a lot of triumphs and smiles.
So here’s to you, thank you.

I love you.

It’s an old note, but it reminded me that no matter what phase of friendship you’re in, some people just earn a permanent place in your heart.

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