She is a real bad bitch. No lie. She is a force to be reckoned with, and I wouldn’t be in a good place or the same person without her. We are soulmates, and I fully expect her to be right beside me as my maid of honor if I ever get married. We’re enough alike that we became friends quickly but different enough that we can help each other grow. I can always count on her to push me to take chances and call me on my shit whenever I’m ridiculous (which happens often).
We met two years ago in May, and on that night, my life forever changed for the better. Since then, she has supported me through my ups and downs (depression, anxiety, insecurity, a pandemic, and family health issues). She knows and understands every part of me in a way I never thought someone could. But she’s also taught me so much about myself. That I can be open to being loved and have meaningful relationships. That there are people in the world with whom I can share myself without fear or judgment. I’ve struggled with finding deep, meaningful friendships my whole life, and at 26, I finally found it. Now at 28, I don’t know how I got through life without her for so long.
No matter what we’re doing, I can always be 100% authentically myself with her. From late-night wine runs, Facetime calls where neither of us is wearing a stitch of clothing, to just hanging out having discussions about anti-racism and allyship; I’m not anxious or worried when I’m around my best friend. I can trust that whenever she says something difficult for me to hear or understand, it’s always because she loves me and wants me to be the best version of myself.
I love her ambition and drive to go after the things she wants in life (I am a Slytherin and, of course, hold this in high regard). She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams. She reminds me of my passion for my dreams and goals in life and inspires me to reach for them every day.
She loves me without expectation, and although she doesn’t like to talk about her own feelings most of the time, I know when she tells me she loves me, she means it deeply. We can allow ourselves to cry with each other, something we don’t like other people seeing, and know that the other person will give us the support we need. On the flip side, we can mercilessly heckle each other and see that it’s done in love because we know each other so well.
It is her last semester of college, and things won’t look the same when she moves away for a job. I don’t think we’ve fully come to terms with the end of this era of our friendship, but I look forward to the next chapter and can thank Covid for making daily Facetiming a thing for us. Through some of my most difficult days, I could always count on a call from her to check-in, try and cheer me up, and bring some joy back into my life. I don’t believe in relying on other people for my happiness, but her consistent support, encouragement, and love helped bring me back. Even now, as my mental health has improved, I can count on a call from her every day.
In short, I’m so thankful for my best friend. She is one of the most important women in my life, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.