I know what “best friend” means

I moved here to Alaska almost a year ago. The first night that I got here, the few new coworkers I'd met took me out to what is now my favorite bar in the world for a few drinks. That's where I met Katrina.

This girl wormed her way into my life and my heart like no one else has before, and she's showed me what a best friend is meant to be. We talked for hours that first night, and we haven't shut up since.

I've always held friends close, but never opened myself up really to any of them. Katrina is someone who finds any little opening that I allow, digs her claw-like nails into the crack, and tugs it away until I tell her things I've never trusted anyone with before.

We've shouted at each other, and it's beautiful because I've never felt this passionately about a friendship, and never had anyone feel the same way toward me. If it had ever gotten close to that point with anyone else I know, I would have cut and run from that relationship so soon.

She's made me a better person. She makes me re-evaluate things about myself that no one else has bothered to point out, and wants me to do the same for her.

She has qualities that I want to emulate but know I could never do so to her level. Her compassion, kindness, and generous spirit can't be matched.

She likes to quote something from Sex and the City (a show I don't watch but hear about from her constantly), something about how your friends are your true soulmates, not a romantic connection. I'd be more reluctant to believe that statement if it weren't for her.