Dear Best Friend,

Truthfully, I never thought you existed. My past friendships have predisposed me to expect conditional, short-lived, and underappreciated relationships — and honestly, I expected you would be the same. I assumed a friendship like this was just a whimsical fabrication, that no two people could ever really be this close. But, man, have I never been more pleased to be wrong. Best friend, you have changed my life — and the best thing is, you don’t even know it.

You are the first person who has every willingly loved me unconditionally. You didn’t have to love me; you chose to. I’m not quite sure why, but I’m not going to be senseless and question it. You have shown me the most powerful type of love, and that may be the greatest gift I have ever received.

They say to surround yourself with people who make you want to become a better person. Well, you’re as good as they come. The way you treat people makes me want to be kinder. The way you carry yourself makes me want to be stronger. The advice you not only give me, but others, makes me want to be a better listener. The way you think makes me want to be more open-minded. And the way you live life makes me want to live life with you, because life with a soul like yours is the greatest journey.

You are the person people go to to ask how I’m doing, if I’m okay, what my favorite color is, or what size shoe I am. It’s because you know me — to the very core, you truly know me. Every dark thought, embarrassing moment, worst fear, biggest ambition, and shameful act. You know me better than I know myself. You can sense an emotion before I even realize what I’m feeling myself. I’ve never believed in psychics until I met you. I can give you one look, and you’ll know exactly what I’m thinking. You know what I need to hear, when I need to hear it (even if I think I don’t want to hear it at the time). It’s because you have my best interest at heart, always. I never question your advice or your motives, because I know you only want the best for me, just like I only want the best for you.

Not only do you know me, but you understand me. You understand my love for small, intimate coffee shops. You understand why I need four sugars instead of three. You understand why I set my alarm for 8:01 instead of 8:00. You understand my vulnerable heart, and why I push people away. But, you never let me push you away, and that’s why you’re my best friend. You stayed when no one else did.

You understand me because you take the time to. You spend the time to actually listen to me. Because of this, you know what I’ve been through, and are more than willing to be with me for what I will go through. Whenever I cry, you cry with me. Whatever sorrow I’m experiencing, you experience it ten times worse. You pay attention to me, and trust me, I pay attention to you too.

Best friend, you are the light that constantly pulls me out of the darkness. Your genuine eminence is something that is so rare, it’s almost angelic. You’re the kind of friend I know God explicitly blessed me with, and I will forever be indebted to Him for giving me you. Your damaged heart and rigid past makes me love you that much more, because it has gifted your soul with a compassion and a grace that seems unattainable for most. Above all, you give me hope for mankind. More people need a best friend like you, but, I’m okay with not sharing. Best friend, you may not have known you changed my life — but now you do.