Hello, it's me.

It's been, what, almost two years now? Two years since our friendship imploded from the inside out. It seems like just yesterday, but then again it feels like a different lifetime entirely. Maybe I shouldn't have written this open letter, maybe I should just pretend it never happened. However, there are some things that I'd like you to know:

I'm sorry after so many years, our friendship ended in the blink of an eye. After all the movie marathons, weekend shopping trips, tear-filled phone calls, and summer beach vacations.

At the time, it crushed me. I won't lie; it took me quite awhile to get over it and come to peace with it. I didn't understand why it happened, it shocked me to the point where I didn't even know what to think. It hurt more than any breakup, any boy that wasn't as nice as I once believed. Mainly because it meant so much more to me back then, we were so close. And frankly, we had been inseparable for so long I didn't know any other way (at least I didn't think I did). Yet after time I began to not only heal, but grow even stronger. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Losing my best friend forced me to reevaluate who I was not only as a friend but a human being. What could I change to improve?

So I brushed the dirt off my knees and I stitched up my broken heart. I decided then that this wouldn't happen again, that I would work my ass off to use this to my advantage. In the end, I learned more about myself than I ever knew I could, and I began to love myself.

Today I am happier than I've ever been. I have friends that are some of the most beautiful people I've ever met; they inspire and amaze me every single day. I have my wonderful family, who love and support me as they always have. And I've met the man we used to talk about together, the one I've always dreamed about. Sometimes I wish you could've met him while we were still close. But most importantly, I now have myself. I'm certainly not perfect, but I love who I am and who I'm becoming.

My point is, I want to thank you. Thank you for pushing me down so I could get up again as a stronger person. Thank you for teaching me to love who I am, as I am. Thank you for showing me hate, so I could know real love.

I truly wish you well,

Your Ex-Best Friend