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.
How to write this letter
- 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
292 public letters致歉
首先，向你道歉，但不对你对象道歉，我骂你菜鸡，是过激了，但你直接骂家人就让我受不了，看我哥和你对象骂，真难受，我们之间的事为何扯到家人，我劝你少和你对象交流，他骂的真伤人，你被他影响没我也不知道，再次向你道歉。
n7883
2022.05.06
梦想
好久不见，过得如何？现在的你在做什么职业呢？我想你肯定在做你最喜欢的事情-演戏，对不对呢？千万别告诉我你现在只是个家庭主妇，我受不了你能成为这样子，或许你的名气不是大，但是你一定要坚持这个梦想。
天使的梦
2017.08.20
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
2021.08.15
sb
在哪了？我难得给你写一封信这个国庆咱们出去玩吧这封信还是三年前给你写的约定个地方咱就去吧你我还有他们几个我们五个人这么长时间应该都没见了吧麻利啊别墨迹不许带对象更不许带孩子只是属于我们五个人的时间听见没有
n8091
2022.08.07
黑白双煞 六神黑鬼友谊永存
还记得我们怎么认识的吗？没错华夏操场，还记得当时你穿着你那三年都舍不得扔掉的水手服，我们因为罚站认识的，那时候我们头发都是扎起来的，你住4楼我住2楼，天天集合都在2楼楼梯口等你，你经常被锁，每天都拖拖拉拉
杨painrer
2017.07.03
致优秀的小义同学
Holle！我亲爱的小义，哈哈哈。不知道以这种方式再给你打招呼，你会以什么样心情看完这封信。是难过，更或者是悲伤，或者又是开心，咱们谁也说不清楚
n6767
2021.03.05
离别信
To：ZYS你收到这封信时，我已踏上前往西安的旅途。然而在出发前，我曾给你留下过一封信件未及告别之遗憾。在此向你道别并感谢有你这样一个挚友相伴左右。愿我们在未来各自前行之路上都能一帆风顺、前程似锦
H贺
2026.06.21
写个邓桑
邓桑你好啊，我是2020年的严桑，现在还有在联系吗，过得怎么样啊？啧，按我们的关系肯定还在联系吧（猜的啊），希望我们这时候都过得还不错吧，不知道你是不是又找到女朋友了，唉，4年了，希望你能过得好吧
n5974
2020.11.29
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
2020.01.21
“黑白双煞”六神黑鬼友谊长存
还记得我们认识的时候吗？华夏操场是吧？你还穿着你那件三年舍不得扔掉的水手服，我们因为罚站认识的，那时候我们头发都是扎起来的你住4楼我住2楼，每天上课我都再2楼梯口等你，每次你都被锁，天天拖拖拉拉
杨painrer
2017.07.03
亲爱的冰姐
冰姐，生日快乐，看到这封信的时候，还不知道，我在不在你身边，给给你切蛋糕，或者和你吹蜡烛呢，总之先祝福你，总是对的，因为到时候我不一定在，可能因为各种原因。如果不在也请你，体谅一下，谢谢
Starzxd
2021.01.16
tony哥哥
你在干嘛呢？不知不觉2个半月又过去了这2个半月你有什么收获啊干了什么 今年的目标制定了吗有没有浪费时间该做的事情有没有做 有没有偷懒啊时间不等人 快抓紧时间做自己想要做的事情吧
托尼哥
2014.02.15
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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