During my seventh grade year at North Albany Middle School, I was lucky enough to meet one of my best friends, Brayden Harris. All throughout middle school he was there for the best and worst times. We hung out at least once a week outside of school. Then, the summer before we started our freshman year, he told me he was moving to Florida. 

     I was absolutely devastated. To think I would have to go through high school without my best friend at my side was heartbreaking. Unfortunately, there was nothing either of us could do about it. A decision had been made that we couldn’t change. As soon as he told me, I made sure to see him at every possible moment. There is no easy way to face someone you care so deeply for moving over 3,000 miles away. 

     It’s not as simple as going through a hardship. Most of the time a hardship will pass or you can grow to accept it. When someone you love moves across the country, it’s a lot harder because they’re still out there, you just don’t get to see them anymore. After a few weeks, you start to get the hang of the time zone difference. It’s not always easy to have a steady conversation three hours apart, but there are times when both of you aren’t busy at the same time, long enough to have a phone call. 

         It’s hard not seeing them everyday. Sometimes those people still have family from wherever they moved from and come and visit during summer or during the holidays. This past year, I got to see Brayden for a week out of July. We had so much fun hanging out and catching each other up on stuff that was hard to say over the phone. That week made me appreciate our friendship even more than I already did. Next year, we’re hoping he will get to come and visit for Christmas and again during summer.

     When he had visited this past summer we did exactly what we used to do before he moved: we went to the mall, bought Starbucks, and wandered around Target talking for hours until he had to go back to his grandma’s house.

     The day he got home he told me about how much he already missed Oregon again. He told me about how he wanted to come back and how much he missed all of his friends here. It made me start to tear up because I really missed him too and I know his other friends do as well. He misses being in Oregon just as much as everyone else misses him being here. 

     Nowadays, we’re lucky enough to have a lot of different ways to stay in touch. There’s apps like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and a whole lot of others where you can direct message on. Or, you can just call, Skype, Facetime, or another form of video chatting if you want to talk more face to face. If you want to go old school, write some letters back and forth. Keeping in touch isn’t hard if both people put a little effort into it.      

     Not seeing someone that you love is heartbreaking. There’s no way around the pain it creates. But it doesn’t have to destroy you or become unbearable. Calling definitely helps the most because hearing their voice makes it seem like they’re there more than texting does. Eventually, the person you’re missing won’t be the only thought in your head. Soon enough you’ll go back to living in the moment and actually having some fun. And before you even know it, they’ll be coming back to visit and you’ll have the chance to make some more amazing memories with them.