My loss has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to endure, and I honestly don’t know if I would be here without you and your love and support. To cry with you and to you. To sit with you in silence or filled with so many words. To feel you holding me literally and emotionally with your gentle and loving arms.

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To understand and witness that my loss is a loss to you too, and to feel that importance of my friendship and life to you. To randomly break down and shatter when I need to with you because I know you’ll keep me safe. To feel comfortable in my feelings of grief around you when a wave overpowers me and I can’t do it alone.

I don’t know if I will ever be able to express what you mean to me, but please try to know it is everything to have you as my ever-supportive friend during my grief. And I will never forget it.

I’m sorry for making you carry more of the load in our friendship right now. I’ve been told my grief won’t be so all-consuming forever, and I will be back to being your person completely too—eventually. Just know that my love and appreciation for you is fierce, and you’ve helped me navigate and survive this unbearable loss by being you . . . by being my sweet friend.

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I know loss is inevitable. It is the way of life. And unfortunately, eventually, our roles will be reversed here. I hope that time is not for years and years to come, but when it does come I hope to be half the friend to you that you’ve been to me right now in my time of grief. And then maybe you’ll know how much you’ve helped me carry on. I love you and I thank you.