We grew up inseparable, attached by the hip. You taught me what a true friend really was before I knew how to be one myself. You were the person I looked up to and strived to be just like. Although you were only a couple years older than me, you still experienced everything first. School, dance recitals, periods, SATs, first kisses, boyfriends, heartbreak, moving out and college. Throughout all of that, I could never be the one to help you through it like you always have done for me. So thank you. Thank you for teaching me to see the best in other people and making me a stronger person. Thank you for teaching me how to care and nurture others and to always have a kind heart. I would 100% be a different person today if we hadn't become best friends way back when, and I can't imagine not having a sister like you–I love you more than words can describe.

Although we live far away, I still think of you constantly and hope you are doing well. I love our random conversations, and major life updates from time to time, and our mild Snapchat streak. I can't wait for you to come visit this summer, I'm counting down the days. Whenever we're reunited, it feels like nothing has changed, and nothing says how close of friends we are more than that. You're still the first person I call in any life crisis, and no one quite understands my sense of humor as much as you. Random things will remind me of our inside jokes, and when I try to explain them to other people, I know they think we're freaks. I've told all of my friends about you and your super-hot boyfriend, and whenever I say your name in a story they've stopped asking “who’s Ava?” It's hard not seeing you for years at a time, but I'm glad we have stayed this close. I guess it's true that long distance makes a relationship stronger.

2004

2015

The Truth About Long Distance Friendships

You lose touch for a while and get nervous about where you stand. You send random texts out of the blue just to say "hi" and catch up. You spend hours on the phone talking about both of the drama happening at each other's school and work even though you don't know any of the other names in the story. You stalk each other's social media to see what they're up to and who they're hanging out with, which may sound creepy, but since it's your best friend, it's totally not. You send each other old throwback pictures, and save the most embarrassing ones for Instagram and Facebook. You complain about how far apart you are from each other, and how much it sucks. You count down the days until you get to see them again, and start making a list of all the things you want to do to be 100 percent efficient with the little time you have together. But the distance does not affect your friendship, and the first time you hang out with them in a while feels like you saw them yesterday. You know saying goodbye is the hard part because it starts the beginning of not seeing them for a while all over again. But all and all, the distance does not affect your friendship and you know you'll never have another friendship to compare.