A Letter to a Friend, to Open Together Years From Now
Adult friendships rarely end — they just quietly fade. No fight, no goodbye. You graduate to different cities, someone gets married, and the chat thread sinks to the bottom of the list. But there's always that one friend you refuse to let drift away like that. A letter to the future is a clumsy, earnest way of holding on: write down the stupid things you did together, the dreams you swore you'd chase, the thank-you you never said — and send it to their birthday five years from now, or to a date the two of you pick. When it arrives, whether or not you still talk every week, they'll be holding proof that someone once took this friendship seriously. Many friends write in pairs: swap emails at the farewell dinner, each write one, and agree to open them on the same day — a time capsule you bury together and dig up together. Below are letters to friends that writers chose to share. Write yours while you still remember the details.
Ideas to get you started
- Put in the things only the two of you understand: the joke you've retold a hundred times, the trouble you got into together. Those code words will make them laugh out loud on opening day.
- Say a real thank-you — friends almost never do. Name the exact moment they pulled you through.
- Make your predictions for five years out: same city? Who gets married first? Check your answers when you open it.
- Get them to write one back. Same delivery date, opened together.
Real letters from the vault
262 public letters哈喽，，力程
你暑假在哪玩呢，还是在哪打暑假工，现在你在打王者，好了，收到回我，郭智豪
小豪
Apr 20, 2018 · Traveled 2 months 25 days
congratulation
亲爱的Portia,祝贺你完成了100天阅读任务，你的阅读水平有很大提高哦！接着坚持读英文原著吧，你一定能做到的！
n3100
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 9 days
那些名字你是否还记得
陈诗勇，刘杰伟，刘杰彪，刘青海，许想桐，许启阳，许林荣，许文滨，许统灿，许思龙还有陈育斌，黄灿烨，黄伟清，许晓煌这些人你是否还记得，是否还有联系？如果没有，记得回去找找，哪怕是出了矛盾，或者走散了，至少还能回忆一下。
好昵称不重要
Jun 1, 2018 · Traveled 3 years
hello王梦
我觉得有时候这样写封信是种麻痹自己的方法，人毕竟要学会长大学会承担，但我有事还是会很累，但我觉得你应该不会吧，总感觉你是个善于调节自己的小姑娘，或许此刻的已经不是小姑娘了，不知道以后同学们大家都会找到什么工作，会不会喜欢，加油吧
mila
Jun 11, 2018 · Traveled 6 years
Photo letter
任岚婷
任岚婷，周沛。请记得你们每走过的一条路，在一起吃过的任何一家店。
n3260
Jun 16, 2018 · Traveled 1 day
18岁的谭晶
我最宝贝的晶可爱生日快乐(๑• . •๑) 今天呢，是你的18岁生日。时间很快对吧！眨眼就是18年了。你看我什么也没买，啥也没做，就给你写了封时光信。 我们算得上是浅淡型闺蜜，虽然面上网上聊得浅，其实心里都是惦记着对方的。我和你的距离，说远不远，说近也不近。你真的是我文涛的第一个闺蜜，除了你，她们都
wuli纯纯的巧克力牛奶
Jun 18, 2018 · Traveled 2 days
Photo letter
给你六年前的照片，哈
同样是情窦初开的少女，为何如此突出。不知六年后，咋俩关系是否像现在一样铁，但你依然是我大哥。希望你能收到这封信，哈哈 可不可以 .........
2874979434
Sep 23, 2018 · Traveled 5 years 11 months
Photo letter
给读完两本狄更斯英文书的Grace
亲爱的Grace，恭喜你哦！读完了两本狄更斯的英文书，100天的时间不算长，画在人生的格子中它只是很小的一段，但是这一小段的坚持会让你更加坚毅，勇于挑战。读完了书，有怎样的感受呢？遇到了哪些困难？你又是怎样克服的呢？精读不能囫囵吞枣，遇到不懂的要问老师。战胜了100天给自己一个小奖励吧！Grace2
Grace格格
Nov 22, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 12 days
你结婚了吗
你结婚了吗，如果没有，那么你是对的，如果结婚了，希望是现在的她；不要结婚兄弟
n3952
Jan 8, 2019 · Traveled 5 years
哥们
当年决定坚持的事情还在坚持吗？还有健身吗？当年的目标实现了吗！加油！
n4148
Mar 31, 2019 · Traveled 2 years
老张，生日快乐！
老张：生日快乐！去年一年，身体还好吗？是一个孩子的爸爸，还是2个呢？去年一年，收获多吗？家里的老婆听话不，你的爱多一点了，还是变少了？今天生日了，要不要带你去吃饭看电影呀？我可以抽空出来陪你呀！
泽妈
Jan 21, 2020 · Traveled 1 year 2 months
还好吗金鳗鱼
最近怎么样 在韩国过得习惯吗还爱他吗 希望你的答案是否定的。
迷糊糊糊小姐
Feb 3, 2020 · Traveled 6 months 2 days
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the letter reach my friend?
Just add their email or phone number when you write. On delivery day they'll get an email and a text, and can open the letter via the link or its 6-digit claim code.
What if they change their number or email by then?
The claim code is the safety net — give it to them now, or hold onto it yourself; it works no matter what changes. You can also send the letter to your own inbox and forward it personally when the day comes.
Should I tell them I wrote it?
Both ways work. Keeping it secret until delivery day makes it a surprise; agreeing to write for each other and open together makes it a ritual. Farewell dinners and birthdays are perfect moments to make the pact.
A Letter to a Friend, to Open Together Years From Now
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