Dear childhood best friend,

Thank you for being the first person to ever show me what real friendship was. Looking back on those years when we didn’t know what the world was or how it would knock us down, I see you keeping me free and laughing even when I wanted to cry. You taught me how to dribble and how to try new things. You didn’t laugh at my craziness, but you joined me instead. You wouldn’t let me back down just because I was scared. I owe so much of who I am today to you.

When I think back on the puzzle that is my life, you’re in every piece.

If I were to tell people today how we would sing on country front porches or literally swim in the rain puddles in your front yard, they would be shocked because I’m not that person anymore. But with you’ll I’ll always be the girl who hiked through the forest in your backyard or trusted you enough to fall asleep while you were straightening my hair (I forgive you for burning me, btw).

Although we’ve drifted apart, as childhood best friends often do, I know you’ll always be there for me just as I’ll always be there for you. You were there for the big things that mattered most. You were always my shoulder to cry on — literally, I’m so sorry for getting tears in your hair that day. I’ll always be glad you came into my life. You taught me what a best friend was, and I’ll always love you for that.

Dear current best friend,

You had some pretty big shoes to fill, but you took on that challenge full force with pride. I’ll be the first to admit that being friends with me wasn’t easy. I can be a total pain on most days. You somehow just knew what to do and how to make me a little saner.

My life wasn’t pretty when you came into it, but you stayed just the same. You took the broken pieces of my life and you glued me back together. Maybe that’s why we put up with each other’s crap (or at least why you put up with mine). You can’t go through chaos and come out unchanged. You took my chaos and changed me for the better. I’m a stable, functioning, pretty awesome person and that has so much to do with you BECAUSE YOU ARE A STABLE, FUNCTIONING, VERY AWESOME PERSON. Our friendship has changed its shape and size over the years, but we’ve managed to stay just as close. We fight for our friendship.

No one grows up thinking they’ll ever lose their first best friend. While I may not have lost mine, life goes on and people change. The people you let in when you are young shape the decisions you make for the rest of your life. Both of you are very different people, but I like to think that if she had to pick someone to fill her shoes then she would’ve picked you. You continued where she left off, and I’ll always love you for that.