11. Dear Mason,

I'm dedicating a blog to you.
Because I not long ago realised you're really leaving to Afghanistan.
And somewhere I hate the idea and I would hold you back if I could.
But I know I can't, because it's your life and this was your decision.
I'm just afraid and sad I won't be talking to you in a while...
Because when you leave, you're taking a piece of me with you
Without you, I'm incomplete.
So before you leave, I want you to know how awesome you are.

As any ordinary teenager, I've had 'guy' problems.
Then there's this one guy I could turn to.
He'd tell me the guy had no idea what he did or what he's missing out.
As any ordinary teenager, I've been insecure.
He'd tell me I'm gorgeous and that I shouldn't worry about a thing.
As any ordinary teenager, I've been confused.
He'd tell me his opinion and even tell me how silly I'm being.
As any ordinary teenage, I've fallen in love.
He'd tell me he loves me too.
And as any ordinary teenager, I've had the horrible first-broken heart.
I fell in love with my best friend.
But then months passed and as any ordinary teenager, I got up again.
And there he stood again, telling me how much he cared.
As any ordinary teenager, I've been through fights.
He'd tell me to hold on and be patient.
As any ordinary teenager, I've done stupid shit.
He'd always been team Erika no matter what.
As any ordinary teenager, you lose friends and you gain new ones.
Thing is ... he never left.

Then years passed and we grew up...
And you could say we both went our own ways
Yet he's still there.
He knows so much about me, it's not even funny
As I know about him
Man, he has caused me the craziest laugh attacks
As he has helped me through tears I've shed
The type of boy I wouldn't trade for the world.

Just know I support you 100%
And I love you!
I don't know what I'll do so long without you, dude
Just know I'll pray for you to come home safe.
You're the best guy I've met in my life.

See you soon, because there's so much I still haven't had the chance to say...

Mason Torres, I'm so proud of you, you have no idea.