“Are you very close friends?” a stranger asked us a week ago.

I didn’t need to think about my answer – and you know how much I like thinking about my answers. I didn’t even look at you to see what you thought, if I was being embarrassingly over-attached.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, we are very close friends.”

“Our lives are very intertwined,” you said, a little later.

And that’s true. But my favorite connection between us is the one where we call each other friend.

I don’t call you my best friend, ever.

I don’t think I’m allowed.

Because your best friend is also one of my very close friends.

And because there are still scars on my heart from the last two times I gave someone that title. Back when I was young and friendship was finite.

I don’t call anyone my best friend now.

I just have very close friends.

Like you.

Very close friends who bring light to my life and make me want to exist.

Who make me laugh.

Who challenge my beliefs.

Who choose to love the things about me that I think could be annoying.

Who are my safe space to discuss Taylor Swift and God.

Who are my emotionally intelligent support person in social situations.

Who remind me to think bigger without ever calling me small-minded.

This is your birth month and this is for you. A tiny reminder that I am oh-so-grateful that we are

Very Close Friends.