Dear Ashley,

     I miss you a whole lot more than I'm comfortable admitting. I finally was able to write you something. I know we promised to do this like a month ago, but... we both know that I am a huge procrastinator. No, wait, that's not an excuse. I'll be honest: I've been super paranoid about friendships lately, and I've been feeling like the friendships I made in high school have started to unravel in college. My head tells me the idea is hogwash; my heart tells me my friends will always love me... yet there is a nagging fear that one day, the friendships I cherish will wither away. 
     That's a terrible way to start a miss-you letter. I'm sorry.
     I suppose I should catch you up some on my life. I honestly don't remember the last time we had a serious Skype or phone call (was it your birthday? Did I miss your birthday?). This year has been very hard, and I've made a lot of mistakes. I spent the whole spring semester in a deep depression from which I am only recently starting to emerge. I got real busy and I let my long-standing friendships go without update, and the longer I went without calling someone the more ashamed I was to call and the more depressed I got. I was really lonely, for a long time. About two weeks ago I finally got the courage to start asking people to be company to me, and I was shocked to find that other people are totally okay with that. I spent most of the semester alone in my room, trying not to implode with my loneliness and stress.
     Shit, I'm still not writing a cheerful letter. Let's just say the year was bad for me in many ways because of choices I made, and I'm not going to call it a waste because I am learning from my mistakes. 
     So here's my third start at this letter to you. How are you? I miss you a lot. Are you still on the producing track? How is your family, how's Deacon? Do you neighbors still annoy you? Did you find a boothang? I have so many questions for you! Here's a little update on me: I took twenty-one hours this semester (nine of them science--> -_-) ), I joined an a cappella group, I got inducted into the presidential honors society, and I won a bunch of awards at my department's end-of-the-year ceremony. I got a job in the information technology department at my school, and sometimes I also work for academic affairs, research and development, and with the provost. It's been a super busy semester, I was a lead in a mainstage show and a lead in a two-person one-act (that got rave reviews, I was honored). I put a whole lot more work into my academics than I have in the past, and right now I made a 3.86 for the year. This summer I have work with IT, and three professional gigs at the summerstock company at school. Also Myrrha just had kittens, the little whore. 
     I'm still at school even though my last exam was Tuesday because I'm ushering for graduation. It's part of the honors society thing. Speaking of presidential honors society, I actually eat breakfast with the president of the school three or four times a week. It's crazy! He used to be on the board at SCAD, and he started three of their satellite campuses. He's a super cool dude.
     I was diagnosed with binge eating disorder this semester, and I have just had a blast dealing with it. Some freshmen gain fifteen pounds, I gained thirty. 
     I think the best part of this year was having Taylor so close. I manage to see her about twice a month. I really am going to be making a strong effort to keep in touch with you more. This year has sucked without you- I need you back in my life! 
     I hope you're doing fantastically well, my friend. I'm looking at our senior prom pictures right now- they're going to be last thing off my wall when I leave on Saturday. I'm only home for a week this summer before I have to go to work, but I want to see you like five times before that week is over. Or have like a twelve-hour Ashley binge. :)

     I love you! I will see you very soon, and hopefully talk to you sooner.