Dear Mary,
I was very surprised when you called me up several weeks ago with the bad news. I wasn't expecting to be told what you said in that call - and I have to admit, I didn't take the news well. It is one thing to have a friend move far away from you, but it's another to have your aunt move cross-country. To me, however, you are not just my aunt - you're my second mother. Without you, things will definitely be different.
I remember when you first came into my life. I was young, impressionable, and having a rough year. People were being mean to me, my parents were (and still are,) busy with my young brothers, and my closest friend had moved to Kentucky. In a way, I was lost in this world. You were the one who acted like a map, helping me gain self confidence and get on the right track to a good future.
Since then, you've been the person I go to when I am upset at Mom, when I'm feeling lonely, or when I'm simply bored. We've played online games together, seen movies on opening nights, and have "card parties" often.
Though it seems dorky for a person my age, I love to play cards. I like feeling them weave through my fingers as I shuffle, and I like our friendly competition on who can win the most times. Cards have not only given us something to do when we're bored, but it has also helped us gain a strong friendship. I am comfortable telling you just about anything. You might be several years older than me, but the age different doesn't really matter.
Besides cards, we shop together, have sleepovers, attend movies, play online games, and do many other things. All of the moments we have had together all mush into the special friendship we have. You might be an adult, but you understand me more than anyone else - even more than my teenaged friends do.
The fact that you're leaving this Friday stirs up so many negative emotions inside of me.
I have abandonment issues - I'll straight-up admit it - and the fact that you're leaving in two days really upsets me. I don't understand why you would want to move to Washington when you have a job here, family close by, and a nice home. I try not to be selfish and I understand that it's your life and you can do whatever you want with it, but I'm just in denial about the whole thing.
All throughout my life, friends and other people I have been close with have come and gone, leaving me alone and yearning for someone to rely on. I'm not the kind of person who can easily stand on two feet and ignore the rest of the world; I feel more secure and comfortable when there is someone else there I can talk to and can find comfort in. You have served as this person up until now, when I feel as if you are abandoning me, and it hurts. It really does.
I'm not ready to say goodbye to you after all these years of having you so close by. Sure, I'll be able to talk to you on Facebook and I can call you during the day (despite the three hour time difference,) but most importantly, I'll miss being with you. I'll miss the summer days when I came over and we roasted s'mores over the fire pit. I'll miss calling you up with a complaint, and hearing your voice talk me through what I should do. I'll miss going out to lunch with you and getting the kids cup so you can pour half of your over priced pop in it to save money. I'll miss mowing your lawn and babysitting your kids so I can earn money. I'll miss teasing you and being teased back, because I know it's what I deserve.
I'll miss all the things that we do together and all the moments we've shared, but most importantly, I'll miss having a best friend again.
-Marissa
