It's been a while, too long actually, but you've been on my mind. Maybe it's because of the old cheerleading photos of us I came across or the flashbacks of the sleepover at your house for your birthday.
All I know is that when our paths crossed, I knew it was the start of something beautiful and unforgettable. I love reminiscing on the first time we met. Our story began at cheerleading tryouts, and we were the only two black girls there.
You waved, but I wasn't sure (and still aren't sure to this day) if you were waving at me or one of the girls behind me, but I waved back. The church we decided to start going to was surprisingly the same church you attended. It was all apart of Gods plan.
I saw all kinds of things in you and wanted to know more about you – from your thinking process to all of your thoughts and ideas. I wanted to be a part of your life. We had a weird, yet inseparable bond that no one else (not even us at times) understood.
Sadly as we grew older, we grew a part. One day we were playing M.A.S.H during church, our GameBoy Colors during long car rides to our competitions and in a blink of an eye, we're grown up going about our business and forgetting to prioritize our friendship.
We grew up much too fast and lost each other in the mix of all the new and exciting people and opportunities that came forth so abruptly. For me, the memory and fact that you're still the same goofy person I was friends with through my awkward middle school and high school years makes me happy.
Let's face it, you had your path and career goals, and I had mine. Our futures were in different ends of the spectrum and that is absolutely OK. Though we're walking down different paths we're still striving to do the things we always said we'd do when we were younger. Oh and by the way, you're doing the dang thang, girl!
But there does come a time in life where you have to accept what it is and move on. We both found people that we fit better with and that's OK. I may not be the person you tell everything to anymore, and you may not be the person I sneak my piece of cake to anymore, but that's OK.
I had my season in your life and you in mine, but now we both have new people in our lives this season. Just because we aren't best friends anymore doesn't mean I hate you. Rather because we were best friends I will always love you more than anyone else in my life.
It sucks things ended the way that it did between us. I wish we could tell each other everything that's happened since we went our separate ways, all of the new friends we've made, boyfriends we had to let go and all of the crazy nights we've experienced. I know that if we were to do that it would only feel forced though.
At the end of the day our chapter has ended, but who knows, maybe there's another chapter somewhere down the road. Maybe in five or ten years, we'll casually bump into each other at the grocery store and be happy to see each other.
For a brief moment, I might get a small scent of the house I loved going to. Neither of us will remember why our friendship didn't work out as planned, and I'll get to hear about all of the things you've done since we stopped communicating.
I always look forward to hearing of your good fortune.
I hope that if you're read this, or if you stumble upon this yourself, nothing but good feelings and emotions take over. As I end this, I want you to know that you're still someone I look up to.
You were my number one person (though it may not have seemed like it) and I wish nothing but the best for you. Thank you for the memories, the many hugs you gave me (most of them against my will) and for providing me with a second family at that time.
Most importantly, thank you for being my first best friend and life long memory. Understand that I will always be there for you if you need me. I'm literally only a call or text away. Slide in the DM's if needed.
Even though you didn't make it to the second part of my story, just know that you are the favorite chapter in my book – and our memories will go down in history.
I love you Coco Puffs.