Today I saw my best friend for the first time since Christmas. When Immy told me back in 2013 that she was moving to Australia, I didn't want to believe it. We partied all Summer long, making the most of our newfound freedom from school and all responsibilities, and spent the best part of four months avoiding the inevitability that she was leaving. 
When I started secondary school in 2007, I remember thinking that Immy was one of the nicest people I'd ever met. Although initially shy and quiet, like most 11 year olds are ha, she lit up once you got to know her. We bonded over our daily commute to school on the coach and our eagerness to fit in with the 'cool' crowd. As we got older and a little wiser, Immy and I only got closer, bonded together by time, and it became clear that I had a friend for life in this girl.
Immy left our school for Sixth Form while I stayed on. But despite her living in Ipswich (she had chosen to go to boarding school) and me remaining in the Big Smoke, nothing much changed between us. Except that she had a far more exciting social life with all the new people she was meeting and even had her first boyfriend. My life, on the other hand, revolved around getting my predicted grades while balancing my part-time job at Starbucks. Of course, I missed her like mad at school, but I saw her fairly often and it wasn't too drastic a change. The only time we really fell out of contact was during our final year at school but that's such a crazy time for A-Level students that we never really thought much of it. So it's easy to understand that I couldn't quite get my head around the idea of her moving half-way across the world. Before she left, I was in total denial and not quite ready to accept that one of the most important people in my life wasn't going to be around much anymore.
It's been hard on us both. Immy moving to Australia made me realise just how much I needed her. She was my constant! Of course, I'm lucky to have a few very special girlfriends but that doesn't mean I liked the idea of Immy moving away... I needed her here! But after almost two years (time really flies), I can tell that it was the best thing for her. She has a real life out there - two dogs, a house, a paying job, a serious boyfriend, all while studying to become a Veterinary nurse. I'm still very much a baby in comparison! I'm so happy for her and it was absolutely the right thing to do - especially as the 'normal' thing for people our age is to be going off to university or going into a job of some sort. But Immy beat the odds again and has done it both. I wouldn't expect anything less from her!
We've been there for each other through all the big moments - the first exams, the first time we both got puppies, the first boyfriends, the inevitable first break-ups, and just all the silly sleepovers spent watching movies and chatting all night. I miss her every single day because life gets in the way and we aren't always so good at filling each other in on all the little things. Seeing her for the first time today, we spent about eight hours in a constant state of conversation and never running out of things to say. Oh and driving round London and getting hopelessly lost.
When I started secondary school in 2007, I remember thinking that Immy was one of the nicest people I'd ever met. Although initially shy and quiet, like most 11 year olds are ha, she lit up once you got to know her. We bonded over our daily commute to school on the coach and our eagerness to fit in with the 'cool' crowd. As we got older and a little wiser, Immy and I only got closer, bonded together by time, and it became clear that I had a friend for life in this girl.Immy left our school for Sixth Form while I stayed on. But despite her living in Ipswich (she had chosen to go to boarding school) and me remaining in the Big Smoke, nothing much changed between us. Except that she had a far more exciting social life with all the new people she was meeting and even had her first boyfriend. My life, on the other hand, revolved around getting my predicted grades while balancing my part-time job at Starbucks. Of course, I missed her like mad at school, but I saw her fairly often and it wasn't too drastic a change. The only time we really fell out of contact was during our final year at school but that's such a crazy time for A-Level students that we never really thought much of it. So it's easy to understand that I couldn't quite get my head around the idea of her moving half-way across the world. Before she left, I was in total denial and not quite ready to accept that one of the most important people in my life wasn't going to be around much anymore.
It's been hard on us both. Immy moving to Australia made me realise just how much I needed her. She was my constant! Of course, I'm lucky to have a few very special girlfriends but that doesn't mean I liked the idea of Immy moving away... I needed her here! But after almost two years (time really flies), I can tell that it was the best thing for her. She has a real life out there - two dogs, a house, a paying job, a serious boyfriend, all while studying to become a Veterinary nurse. I'm still very much a baby in comparison! I'm so happy for her and it was absolutely the right thing to do - especially as the 'normal' thing for people our age is to be going off to university or going into a job of some sort. But Immy beat the odds again and has done it both. I wouldn't expect anything less from her!We've been there for each other through all the big moments - the first exams, the first time we both got puppies, the first boyfriends, the inevitable first break-ups, and just all the silly sleepovers spent watching movies and chatting all night. I miss her every single day because life gets in the way and we aren't always so good at filling each other in on all the little things. Seeing her for the first time today, we spent about eight hours in a constant state of conversation and never running out of things to say. Oh and driving round London and getting hopelessly lost.
Immy still has 11 more days in London and I plan to make the most of having her here - we've planned a sleepover just like the old days... I don't care that we're both 20 now ha. We've been there for each other for the big moments for the past ten years (!) and I don't see that ending any time soon. Another three years and she'll be home for good, I can't wait. But until then, I know that she's always there even if she's not physically here - only a Facebook phone call away at 2am if I need her...
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