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
而你，我的朋友
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
Photo letter
嚯嚯，快打开！
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
Photo letter
嘻嘻
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
Photo letter
一封可爱的祝福请接收
无事绊心弦，所念皆如愿希望我的朋友们，新的一年所行化坦途，多喜乐，长安宁大家都要加油捏~~~以后会越来越好哒！也不知道这一年有没有收获，希望我和我的朋友已经富裕起来了，冲冲冲！爱泥~~~ ———格子
lili1
Jan 19, 2024 · Traveled 11 months 12 days
your part
hi,你干嘛，现在工作忙不，还开心吗，笑口常开
145349494
Apr 9, 2024 · Traveled 1 day
写给20岁的阮格致>-<
hi,20岁的阮格致 你好呀，我是你的好朋友兼初中同学兼初中同桌兼高中同学兼追星搭子was（哇好长的title◕‿◕)首先祝你生日快乐！！20岁的阮格致会有什么不一样呢？我也不知道，只知道她一定会更漂亮，更善良，更自由。从初中到现在已经是8年了，在20年的生命里我们已经一起共度了将近一半的时光，在最
liiove_7
Apr 20, 2024 · Traveled 20 days
……
嗯…我老实了兄弟没想到你那么快就无缝衔接了 当我前几天给你邮过去的信是假的吧！
等下完这场雨我就来找你
Jul 7, 2024 · Traveled 6 months 26 days
致我最好的朋友张静怡
如果这时候我们还在一起，关系依旧那么好，那我们就凌晨去山顶看日出，去海边追日落，或者半夜发疯来一场说走就走的旅行，骑一辆小电动在傍晚饭后，你就在我身后吹着晚风，穿过大街小巷，可如果那时候我们已经走向不同的路，有了各自的生活，那我也真心祝愿你，在你的生活中平安喜乐，亲爱的朋友，请你始终记得有你在胜过千
3142229694
Jul 9, 2024 · Traveled 2 years
写给HH的一封信
我的朋友： 展信佳。 HH！好久不见呐！ 意外发现了这个网站，想到我之前给你寄过一封手写信，不知道现在你还记不记得了，现在我想给你寄一封未来的电子信。 写点什么好呢，今天是教师节，星期二，现在的我正在值班，试图通过写信消磨无聊的时光。你最近还好嘛，是不是在上学了，话说我们的高中距离现在也有四年的光景
2827291706
Sep 10, 2024 · Traveled 6 months
lucky一定转正了吧
hi,lucky 宝贝这时候你应该转正了吧？昨天，领导找你谈话我，说你不够sociel.说你来了一个月什么成绩都没有做出来，说你对项目的熟悉程度他五分钟就能了解。当然，他说的和他希望你做到的都没问题，作为一个过来人给新人的建议我觉得说得很好，也很感谢他给你说那么多。但是啊，我会分析了哦，没一头扎进他
lucky一定会过试用期
Sep 20, 2024 · Traveled 1 month 29 days
至张达理
今天是2023.10.1，是我们的友情三周年（具体时间不记得了，就按这一天定吧）我不知道我为什么要写这封信，可能是临时起意吧。明年的国庆2024.10.1。我们的友谊是否健在？我们一起玩着什么游戏？你的病情怎么样了?我不知道写什么，毕竟我想说的话太多了。前几天退出了你的那个群聊，我觉得我融入不了他们
3578432389
Sep 25, 2024 · Traveled 6 days
写给21岁的朵朵
hi 21岁的朵朵 首先祝你21岁生日快乐呀！！！ 21岁我也还陪在你的身边呀 么么么么 我们认识的时候是幼儿园，那时候是几岁呀，4岁？现在是21岁了，这简直就是，就是，就是，我就是不出来，你自己体会吧哈哈哈哈哈。小时候的我们有想过能和对方玩这么久吗，我不知道，小时候的我没去想过永远，只想过想一直和
liiove_7
Oct 25, 2024 · Traveled 26 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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