By Malak Hisham

Sitting back now and reliving all our memories, I realized that throughout the timeline of our friendship, you always had my back. I realized that people have come and gone, that I was abandoned by countless “friends”, but never once did you ever leave. I’ve realized how unappreciated you actually are. Out of everyone; you always stayed. You were constantly there to pick up the pieces, so here’s to you.

Here’s to you always having my back, to me crying on your shoulder for hours and you never failing to comfort me. I know we joke about it, but we both know that no one can handle me and my insane ways better than you do. You tolerated me at my worst and held my hand at my best. We both know that boyfriends come and go, but we are kind of stuck with each other. Here’s to our insane car rides, singing and dancing like lunatics in the car and getting weird glances from passers-by. Here’s to our sushi dates filled with gossip and cursing the day men were born. Here’s to you coming over in the middle of the night just because I wasn’t feeling well. Here’s to me calling you, waking you up in the dead of the night, and you picking up, yet not remembering it the next morning. Here’s to you missing out on a few days of our senior trip and a few hours of our prom, just so you can take care of me, and vice versa.

Here’s to us bickering and arguing endlessly, yet hugging it out at the end of the day. Here’s to you standing by my side when no one else was, even when you couldn’t stand me at the time. Here’s to you supporting me endlessly. Here’s to us telling each other the truth, even if we know it will hurt. Here’s to our anti boys campaign. Some people need fancy sh** to have fun but for us, singing Haheb Tani over sushi in the car, does the trick just fine. You make me laugh, till I’m rolling on the floor with tears pouring out of my eyes.

You accept me in all my forms, whether I’m hyper, jumping all around the place or on a verge of a meltdown. You’re always there. Here’s to us roaming the world together. I mean we went to South Africa together; who can top that? You always know what’s wrong from taking only one look at me; I don’t even have to utter a word. Here’s to you always seeing right through my lies. Here’s to us fangirling extensively over the Scott brothers, and sharing our undying love for One Tree Hill together. Here’s to us envying Haley and Lucas for their friendship. Here’s to you being patient with me whenever, even when I was being a bitch. Here’s to hating the same people together. Here’s to all our bus rides filled with countless deep talks or just comfortable silence. Here’s to being stranded in the street till 3 AM in the summer. Here’s to you being the best friend I ever had.

You have so much goodness in you. You know everything about me, literally, and you’re probably the only one who does. You always tell me I’m strong and that I can get through anything. But now it’s my turn to tell you that. You are strong, beautiful and intelligent. You deserve so much better, so much more than what you’re getting. So here’s to always having each other’s backs, to countless midnight talks, to you being the worst person at grasping family trees and jokes, to our everlasting friendship. Thank you for all what you’ve done. Thank you for making me laugh, when all I felt like doing was cry. I know I rarely ever show it but I’ll always cherish our friendship whether now or when I’m 80. You’re the Thelma to my Louise. Sometimes, a ride or die isn’t a boyfriend, sometimes, just sometimes, it’s a best friend.