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
写给未来的你
不知道如何开头，可能让你感觉到有点唐突了，十年前的今天我正在给你们写这封信，就是你现在正在读着的这片苍白的文字。。。亲爱的不要激动请先看下去。。。 现在是毕业季，一个刚下完雨的初夏下午。色长，小婕因为工作先离开了宿舍，冒烟和太婆也回家了，只有我和小雨在宿舍。她正在看着韩国综艺，我站起来走到阳台伸了伸
quanlanglang
Oct 23, 2014 · Traveled 8 years 7 months
Photo letter
伟哥，我是小崔
上学的时候都叫你伟哥，自打他妈上班这小崔小崔的，你现在适应么，反正我现在适应，嘻嘻，dota进步没有，带没有小伙伴们飞，找没找到女朋友啊，是不是想象中那样，工作顺利吗，你丫不会跳槽了吧，会不会真的找自己喜欢的工作，接到信件的时候你丫绝壁忘记了，就你那记性，一年后，想象就是，诶#64啊，就这样吧，爱咋
n512
Oct 27, 2014 · Traveled 1 year
长高了没
一年过去了 你还是159吗？哈哈哈 开玩笑的唔知你宜家仲系唔系日日睇小说，打机咧？比起一年之前，你有乜嘢变化吗？从大三狗荣升为大四狗，系时候为自己噶未来做打算啦企伟大领袖李玥璇噶带领下，希望你宜家变身为学霸，碾压渣渣们吧！觉得你系个不可多得的FRIEND，系大学里边，同你讲噶说话系最多噶，希望一年后
果苹个一
Nov 29, 2014 · Traveled 1 year
写给我的闺蜜
纪秋萍闺蜜：我是那个你忍不住想照顾的小洁洁，请别惊讶我给你寄出这封信，这是一年多前的我敲击着键盘，没有太华丽的外表，但有我真挚的信，我们四个人可能暂且被上帝遗忘了，幸运并未降临到我们身上，但是此时此刻的你，我希望，是用爱去包裹的，此时此刻，2016年的你是幸福的，有个与你到迟暮的爱人，白首相依，所以
荠菜菜菜子
Feb 4, 2015 · Traveled 1 year 8 months
写给小顾姑娘
猜出我是谁了么，哈哈，我是赵洁，是不是很警醒呢，这是我一年前写给你的心，吃吃我在2015年敲击着键盘给你的信，还记得你中午和我讲你的伤心恋爱史么，其实我也觉得，上帝对我们太不公平，可我希望你此时此刻你应该是幸福，所以我选择在一年后的2016年让你看到这封信，此时我希望你是幸福的，我给黄鱼，纪秋萍，还
荠菜菜菜子
Feb 4, 2015 · Traveled 1 year 4 months
写给我的死党黄鱼
死党你好，我是赵洁，这是时光邮箱，记得查收，此时的你是不是已经心仪的另一半，这是我对你最诚挚的祝福，别看我平时骂你，其实我内心还是很善良的，所以先在北京时间2015年2月4号我不顾严寒敲击着键盘，祝你幸福，这个信封十一年后才寄出去，所以我延长了时间，希望你找到另一半的时候打开它，愿我们大家都幸福
荠菜菜菜子
Feb 4, 2015 · Traveled 1 year
Photo letter
海燕啊
海燕啊。终于考完了不是吗？对，我是羊羊羊。我觉得真的很奇妙，从我第一次看到你，我拉起你的手就冲向十班领校服，说实话，你那个时候看起来真的蛮邋遢的。但是我还是拉着你是吧，到处都是人潮，带着我的憧憬。你是否还记得你做在我前面时我不停的戳你，等你一次次的回头。对，那个时候我是很幼稚。我渴望有新的生活。你和
挽服
Feb 5, 2015 · Traveled 4 months 18 days
Photo letter
我们的十年之约
小伙伴们，我们的赌约哦
小政不姓郑
Feb 12, 2015 · Traveled 9 years 11 months
Photo letter
我们的十年之约
小伙伴们，我们的十年之约哦
小政不姓郑
Feb 12, 2015 · Traveled 9 years 11 months
写给未来的ada......
Nick~还记得两年前的今天我们认识嘛！两年了哦~友谊要走下去~我现在写信的时间是2.14今天你不在诶。。。
黄怡璠
Feb 14, 2015 · Traveled 2 months 4 days
正在孤军奋斗的我亲爱的
今天是姜大声的生日，么么哒～当然我不是庆生的，我是想说这些日子辛苦你了。考自考要扪心自问考得怎么样，是不是努力了接下来不知道你考编怎么样啊反正一切加油，都在你自己的手里。新的一天开心点吧 记得我们爱你。 慧
龙儿是我的童真
Feb 14, 2015 · Traveled 3 months 4 days
童鞋
认识是一种缘分！认识你很高兴哦！ 快要考大学了，同一年的呢，嘻嘻…… 希望，你可以考个自己满意的大学，给你满满的祝福哦！ 童鞋，一起加油吧！FIGHTING 童鞋，你很可爱哦！ 嘻嘻……
妮子
Feb 23, 2015 · Traveled 1 day
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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