“I feel like a part of my soul has loved you since the beginning of everything. Maybe we’re from the same star.” – Emery Allen

I like this quote by Emery Allen. It speaks of two beings originating from the same star, two halves of a whole finally meeting, two souls remembering that they love each other – and that’s exactly how I feel when I think of the friendship I’ve had with AJ for the past decade.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years with AJ, it’s that you don’t need to be in love with someone to find your soulmate. I found mine in the form of a rare and beautiful best friend. He shone so bright the first time I met him, that I knew I had found the missing half to my star. And from that moment on, I never felt lost, or lonely, or empty, because I had him.

When people ask me how long we’ve known each other, I always say “Oh, I practically grew up with him”, because honestly, I really did. (Even though we only met in college) We did everything side by side. We ate, and boy did we drink together. We laughed and cried our hearts out together. We sang and danced and learned about the ups and downs of being an artist together. We had our hearts broken together, so we also fixed each other, piece by broken piece, together. We shared all our successes and all our failures together. We grew together.

And now 10 years later, despite the many miles and many, many hours apart, we support each other, we protect each other, and we continue to make each other better.

I learned how to be the best version of myself when I was around him. And that, more than anything else, is what makes him so precious to me. Only a beautiful soul can bring out the beauty in another’s. And AJ has done that more times than I can count.

My beautiful best friend

AJ, I am who I am, because you are who you are. There’s not much else I can say after that.

I am glad you fell out of the sky to be with me. I wouldn’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t. Your half of the star keeps my half shining brightly, and I am beyond grateful for that.

Happy Birthday sweetie. I love you.