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写给两年后的墨镜
也不知道这时候我还是否喜欢你，也不知道我们这时候还是不是cp，逗比寨还有没有银子一来墨镜就冒泡的迷之定律，总之，这是15年的我写给你的！o(｀ω´ )o于是祝安好呦hhhh！
n747
2015.04.16
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
2021.06.10
写给未来的…
还好吗，生活顺利?不后悔遇见你，和你成为朋友真的很开心光遇里说的温暖灵魂就是你，你就是我最好的朋友。不管将来关系如何，你始终是我星盘最亮的星，它终会闪闪发光愿你一切安好
n5426
2020.11.27
望加油
我们永远都是朋友，尽管我们从未见过。我希望你早己长成了自己所喜欢样子。虽然一年的时间还是有一点短暂，可是我们是要用一辈子才会真正明白爱是什么，所以一年并不可怕。望加油。
为了跟好
2015.03.08
hello胡静怡
我今天突然感慨万千想着给朋友写封信，虽然我们连朋友都不是我还经常莫名其妙的烦你，估计你也感到绝望想杀了我吧，如果真的这么长时间过去，你能看到的话，也算我对你所有的道歉
mila
2018.06.11
hello波哥
想想已经给你写了一封，又想多说些，但是老实说有没什么讲的出口，希望那是我们都好，都活出自己想要的样子，这么久或许大家都被生活压倒了，但我更愿意相信大家都开心
mila
2018.06.11
啧 刚刚忘记了几个人旺普罗II矢车菊
你们不在刚想起来还少了你们呢 文盲@暴走之随便狂魔 瞎子@旺普罗II矢车菊 本子哥@超高校级_幸运 还有一些潜水党就不爱特了记得的时候再说吧 √
n352
2014.08.05
致小义
忘了告诉你，麻烦你好好看看，仔仔细细看看我的欠条，我可能真的不欠你100万。哈哈哈，一样你以后别再遇到骗子了。
n6767
2021.03.05
渟姐
亲爱的渟姐，我猜你看到这封信很懵吧嘿嘿嘿，很高兴认识你你给我带来很多快乐，谢谢你，我们可一定要玩一辈子不能分开啊，你说过了不能反悔，嘿嘿嘿
傻b渟姐
2020.11.29
朋友们
话还没说完，希望你们一切都好吧.有空去看看吧，这张照片估计你都想不起来了在哪拍的，就是学校宿舍啊，有空回学校看看，见见朋友，如果条件允许。
mila
2020.01.28
傻逼熊燕
今天是我生日呢，距离你的生日也不远了，半年了，和你的小男友还好吗，有没有过的更好，变得更瘦，变得更漂亮呢，我是你永远的朋友噢。
n6682
2021.02.16
写给未来的…
嘿妮妮。我是你亲爱的姐姐收到信的时候你已经23了老了我也不年轻了希望现在的我们的感情依旧一样好看到信打个电话给我哟爱你的姐姐
小丑姑娘y
2016.04.13
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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