A Thank You To My Best Friend

It’s strange to think that once — recently enough, even, although it seems like this could have never been the case — we were mere acquaintances, people who would smile and say hello and maybe some small talk and then go our separate ways; turn and walk to our friends. It’s strange to think how things change.

You came to my little city, into my world, and I was apprehensive of your arrival as I didn’t know what to expect. I knew as a fellow foreigner we would have things to talk about and, sharing a mother tongue, communication would be easy. Little did I know that you would complete my world and become one of my closest and most valued friends. Little did I know how much of an impact your leaving would have (I’ll probably never tell you exactly how much in person — maybe I will do it here).

I want to thank you for being my friend and let you know how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate you both as a person and a friend. You are possibly one of the most stubborn and opinionated people I know, and I love that you stand your ground and, to quote Cool Runnings, don’t take no shit off of nobody. I know sometimes it’s difficult for people to accept that you won’t roll over or change who you are to please them, and sometimes people don’t understand you in that sense, but you need to ignore those people and remember that your opinions are 100 percent valid and if they can’t accept you, you don’t need them.

I love that when you peel back the layers of your hard exterior, you are also one of the most empathetic, loving, caring people one can hope to meet. Don’t let pain and rejection cause that exterior to become your interior. People should be honored to know you, and if they don’t see the benefit in fighting to peel back those layers, they aren’t worth your tears or your heartache. 
You don’t know what a beautiful person you are, how lucky people are to have someone as honest and challenging but caring and loving as you are in their lives. You don’t know how lucky I am.

It’s easy to forget how many people you help, how much time you take to talk people through their problems, to offer advice or to simply just be there, but don’t forget it. Because we are all grateful for you and we’re all lucky that you’re in our lives, safe in the knowledge that you’re there to stay. What we need you to know now is that we’re here to stay, too. We care about you more than any words can express and value your happiness sometimes more than our own. When you hurt, we hurt. When you laugh, we laugh… and so it goes on.

You’ve made my life infinitely better. I miss not seeing you every day more than I could ever put into words, but I’m beyond grateful that you came into my world, shook everything up and made me see the world anew. You introduced me to a type of friendship I wasn’t sure existed and I believe beyond all doubt that I will think exactly the same of you in 10, 20 or 50 years. 
Because you’re my best friend, and because I love you.