I know there's a lot of pieces written to former best friends, but none of them sum up exactly what I want to say. Some are written to expose the bonds of friendship that the other broke, while others look back with nostalgia at times and laughter shared. This letter is the latter.

So, to the group of girls I used to call my BFFs:

Hey. There was a time when talking to you about even the most difficult topics was easy, but years of growth and distance have come between that. Run-ins with one another have been slightly awkward, because after years of not telling each other every detail about our lives, where do we begin?

To be honest, I don't remember the last time we were all together. We've tried to set up "reunions," but I'm not too sure if we'll ever get around to finding a day that works for us all. It's been a while since I heard your voices, or saw your faces. The conversations we've had in the past few years generally included the typical "How are you?!" and "I miss you; we need to catch up," but nothing that would hint at how close we once were.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

Ever since elementary school, we would talk about how our lives would be in high school and college, how when we got married, we would be each others' bridesmaids, and how our children would be best friends. We stuck together through the awkward phases of middle school, documented by countless pictures making duck faces and peace signs. From reading Junie B Jones books to venturing into the bra department of Limited Too, from buying watermelon smoothies to talking about our first kisses; all of the "whose mom is driving?" and Send This to 9 Of Your Closest Friends or Have Bad Luck For the Next Seven Years chain messages; all the late nights spent begging our moms for a sleepover, a large part of who I am was developed over our years of friendship.

Every once in a while I'll hear a song (Grease Lightning, Graduation (Friends Forever), Never Say Never) and think of you guys. Sometimes I'll accidentally open Photo Booth on my laptop (does anyone still use it??) and remember the hours upon hours we spent in front of the computer taking pictures of ourselves. I remember how we entertained ourselves by playing Commercial or doing stupid things like rating one another after watching Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging.

One day, our group was no longer a group. We changed over the years, and developed personalities and interests different than what we had in the carefree days of childhood. We weren't the same girls who we were in first or fifth grade.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks. Thank you for giving me your shoulders to cry on, your food cabinets to raid, and most importantly, a group of girls to grow with throughout the years. Though it's been years since we were a close-knit, seemingly unbreakable group, and while we all have our own lives and different friends, you all still have a place in my heart, and I'll always cherish the memories we made together throughout our childhoods.

Sincerely,

Your old best friend.