If you’re really lucky, you have that one friend who has been with you through every stage of your life, and you know they’ll be there for every stage that will follow. They’ve been there through thick and thin, in good times and in bad times, and you know they’re not going anywhere. You’ve put up with each other for this long. Chances are, you two are in this for the long run. Here are 19 reasons why your childhood best friend will be your lifelong best friend.
1. They know too much about you
They were there when you had your first crush, when you threw up during a class field trip in third grade, when you choked during the school play—you get the point. They know about every crush you’ve ever had and have witnessed every dumb thing you’ve ever done and said. At this point, they know too much to let them go.
2. And you know everything about them
Seriously, you know everything there is to know about them, and they know everything there is to know about you. Not just the embarrassing things, but the things that make you, well, you.
3. They can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at you
You’ve got the whole telepathy thing down by now, so you don’t even need to speak to communicate with them anymore. You basically have your own language. Who else can you do that with, besides maybe your SO?
4. You survived your awkward phase together
All that’s left are a few unfortunate pictures of those terrible, formative years and your best friend’s memories. If you can survive puberty together, you can survive anything. And if they loved you throughout your emo phase, they’ll love you for the rest of their lives.
5. They were friends with you even when you had a bowl cut
True friendship.
6. You can reminisce about the good old days with them
Or the not-so-good old days. Either way, they’re always down for some throwbacks.
7. And you guys can gossip about people you went to school with
The only thing more fun than reminiscing about the good old days is talking about all of the people you guys were forced to put up with seven to eight hours a day, five times a week for over 10 years.
8. You can be yourself around them
There are no filters or barriers around them. Any walls you may have had have long been broken down. There’s no one else you’re more comfortable with.
9. You have a million inside jokes with them
It’s actually kind of obnoxious, but people don’t know what you guys are talking about half of the time.
10. Their family is your family
They’re a part of your family now, and you’re a part of theirs. You know their family almost as well as you know your own. You probably know each other’s families well enough that you’ll show up before your friend is even home and hang out with their parents.
11. They’ve seen you ugly-cry
They know how ugly that can get, yet here they still are.
12. They remind you of home
And home isn’t the same without them.
13. You could call them in the middle of the night to move a body and they would
It would probably look a lot like that time SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs thought they killed the health inspector and tried to hide the body, but it’s the thought that counts.
14. They’re always there to hear you vent
They’re your best friend for a reason. Chances are, they know what it is you need when you’re upset, and sometimes that just means listening to you rant about the same thing for two hours.
15. You can do absolutely nothing with them and enjoy it
You no longer feel obligated to do something every time you hang out, so half of the time you just lay in bed on your phones watching Netflix.
16. You can’t imagine your life without them
They’ve been there through every major stage of your life so far—childhood, your awkward preteen years, your heartbreaks and your struggles. You can’t imagine not having them in your life for the stages that are to come.
17. You already know they’re going to be one of your bridesmaids or your maid of honor
You’ve talked extensively about your future weddings, to the point where you could probably plan each other’s wedding.
18. They made you who you are today
They played a huge role in making you the person you are today. It only makes sense they’d stick around to see the finale.
19. Even distance can’t break your bond
Maybe you two no longer go to the same school now that you’re away at college, but that hasn’t had an impact on your friendship. When you see each other again, you pick up right where you left off, and it’s like you were never apart.