In tenth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch. At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you. The summer after twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you clean up the bottles from that party, helped you sneak out of the house when you just couldn't deal with your parents, assured you that now that you and Nick or you and Susan were back together you could make it through anything, helped you pack up for university and just silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories you were leaving behind, and finally on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in college as well as you had these past 18 years, and most importantly sent you off to college knowing you were loved. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.
Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say. A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. Friends and family are the foundation on which all of us build our lives.