Dear Athens,

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: I left you. I packed up my things and left you when the sun grew hotter and the skies became clearer. I’m sorry; it’s summer, what else can I do?

I wanted to stay with you, really! You’ve been nothing but good and kind to me, and all the mistakes I’ve made with you were my fault entirely -- and I don’t see them as mistakes, anyway. I see them as adventures, ones that I will always want to take with you.

But I’ve heard that all good things must come to an end, and since you are one of the best things that happened in my life, of course you have to come to an end, eventually.

Please remember that this is temporary. I will come back, give me a few weeks. I know that others have left you too, all at the same time, but so many people have stayed, and so many people will return to you.

Because you’re Athens. Because you feel like home, because you have become my home. Because you’ve seen me at my best (like when I actually pay attention in class and find the courage to raise my hand). Because you’ve seen me at my worst (which we will never speak of again, thank you very much).

I hope you know that I’ve become myself with you and because of you. You let me find and keep my independence, but you also gave me a community to lean on when it was too hard to carry the weight of the world alone. You spoiled me, with the best foods and the best shops and, most of all, the best people.

Athens, you’ve introduced me and reintroduced me to my best friends, my favorite people, my semester-long friend crushes. So many people have never heard of Athens, Georgia, but the people who know you are blessed and lucky and, in my unbiased opinion, awesome.

There are people who love you or know you better than I do. Don’t worry; I can share you, I don’t mind.

Athens, I miss you. I know soon the summer will be over and I’ll be equally elated and disappointed that you will be filled to the brim once again, with students who have missed you too. I’ll be happy to see you again, and it will make the chore of going to class easier.

Until then, be happy, be well, and stay exactly the same. I can’t wait to see you again!

Love,

A UGA Student