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
Photo letter
你还记得她吗
老姐，张琴
用户6451672941
Apr 6, 2021 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
你还记得她吗
老姐，张琴
用户6451672941
Apr 6, 2021 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
赵曼
再无相见的日子你要保重 笨蛋 鼻炎就少在大冬天出去玩 胃不好喝点热水少吃凉的 以后少生点气
哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈
Apr 25, 2021 · Traveled 6 days
当时懵懂无知的少年写给你的小情话
你在我这诉苦，对我说出心中的烦心事，而我不在你的身边，没办法用手搂过你抱在怀中安慰你，也许你看到这一句就想打我了，可是你打不到我了，为了写着封信真是费尽周折差点累死，又是在凌晨，你还不睡觉而我还的陪着你不然这漫漫长夜你该怎么度过啊，你其实一直是一个小女生，不过想法和普通女生不一样，爱好也是我们男生喜
n7055
May 3, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
无
哈哈哈哈哈 是不是很意外呢？ 几年前刷的抖音发现还有这个东西，我就特别想写一下或许我们就这样吧。生活很奇怪 从陌生人走来 又走去 最后就这样吧 总是这样没办法 没有在同一个世界 就高中在一个班里面 每个人应该都是这吧 物以类聚 人以群分 我这个 我.. 太菜了 我书读得少还想的多 没办法 咱初三的化
3x4yue
May 4, 2021 · Traveled 3 years 11 months
给未来的李晗毓
李晗毓，咱们的关系嗷嗷铁，哈哈，你一直叫我大儿，我也把你默认成我爸爸了，咱们学习差太多，到高中必定不在一起，但是我不知道我们的感情会怎样，更好还是冷淡了，你在我七上没几个朋友的时候给我带来欢乐，在我九下许多朋友的时候你依旧是最重要那一个，所以如果你在明年的今天看到，不管关系如何，给我发个消息吧！我一
李明
May 5, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
给未来的任烁羽
任烁羽，姐姐！你和我七年级可就认识了，哈哈，咱俩认识你还能记得是因为啥吧，不管因为多少事，咱俩多长时间不吱声，你和我关系依旧那么好，我想了半天，不知道从哪说，咱俩的故事太长了吧，咱俩估计关系不能淡吧，明年的今天你要是看到这个，你可告诉我一声哦姐
李明
May 5, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
玫玫
亲爱的玫玫 见字如晤 不知你的这个新年是否和明伟过得愉快，极兽聚是否真的有趣，你是否结交了好友，高一的生活是否乏味，
n7178
Jun 10, 2021 · Traveled 6 months 22 days
你好，小严
小严你好，我是贺政，非常高兴能够认识你，现在是2021年6月15日，你又开始傲娇喽。嗯，当然，我知道我必须要为你产生傲娇这样的小情绪负责。确实，我不该吼你凶你，emmm，但是当时确实没有忍住好伐，刚被诸葛亮杀完，你还问这么弱智的问题，emm，不吼你吼谁呀哈哈哈哈！but，吼你是认真的，觉得自己错了，
n7208
Jun 15, 2021 · Traveled 5 years
你好，小严
小严你好，我是贺政，非常高兴能够认识你，现在是2021年6月15日，你又开始傲娇喽。嗯，当然，我知道我必须要为你产生傲娇这样的小情绪负责。确实，我不该吼你凶你，emmm，但是当时确实没有忍住好伐，刚被诸葛亮杀完，你还问这么弱智的问题，emm，不吼你吼谁呀哈哈哈哈！but，吼你是认真的，觉得自己错了，
n7210
Jun 15, 2021 · Traveled 5 years
Photo letter
吴畏
2021.7.27晚上跟吴畏开视频把他开到yue了。啊哈
g阿婆
Jul 28, 2021 · Traveled 11 months 29 days
Photo letter
给高考完的王烯
考的怎么样！恭喜你，高中毕业啦。现在过得好吗，妈妈身体怎么样。有出去玩吗。zxy考的怎么样，考上清美了吗。恭喜你进入大学，有想好报什么专业吗。2020-2021真的过得好难啊，不过你撑下来了。未来也请加油啊。
Vanessa
Aug 15, 2021 · Traveled 10 months 16 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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