Distance makes the heart grow fonder
Since my closest friend moved away, I finally understand what the phrase “distance makes the heart grow fonder” truly means. This past June, my best friend, Eloise Etheridge, moved from California to Berlin, Germany. I met Eloise in middle school at a mutual friend’s birthday party, and we have been inseparable ever since. Honestly, I would not have been able to survive my first half of highschool without Eloise.
Now, not being able to see the person I have spent everyday with for the last three years, to simply put it, is heartbreaking. Even four months later I find myself instinctively saving a seat for someone who is no longer there, constantly trying to preserve what we used to do together.
From always walking home after school to sleepovers each weekend, Eloise and I spent all our moments together. You might think that spending that much time with someone would make you grow tired of one another, but I never got bored of our endless conversations.
My fondest memories with Eloise are the mundane ones. Watching movies we have seen a million times before and laughing during melancholic car rides. After Eloise moved, I desperately wished for her to come back, just so I could hug her one last time.
Despite the many trials and tribulations, I have found that long distance friendships work because distance does not have to divide. Relationships can remain strong despite time differences and changes in schedule. To make a long distance friendship work, there has to be active communication and understanding
Even so, there will always be complications, and I have found that the worst part of having a long distance friendship is the time difference. Having such disconnected schedules can be daunting, and that is why prioritizing communicating with each other is crucial. My best friend’s move has encouraged me to spend more time with my local family and friends, while at the same time, she will always hold a special place in my heart.
The only advice I can give about long distance friendships is to embrace them. Despite the continents that separate us, we are closer than ever, constantly calling and communicating.
