Hey, [Name].
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while. Maybe I should’ve just sent a text, but some things deserve more than a few lines on a screen.
I want you to know how much I admire you. Not just for who you are now, but for the journey it took to get here. I had the privilege of seeing parts of that journey up close—those long car rides, the late-night brainstorming sessions, the moments of clarity when the world cracked open and let a little more truth in. I remember those times vividly, not just because they shaped some of my best story ideas, but because they shaped you. And in turn, you helped shape me.
You’ve shown me what it means to live authentically—not in some cliché, motivational-poster way, but in the real, hard, terrifying, beautiful way that costs something. You made a choice to be yourself in a world that often punishes people for that. And you did it anyway. That kind of courage? That kind of honesty? That’s rare. That’s powerful. That’s inspiring.
I was there when you started down this path, but I want you to know that you were there for me too. Your friendship has been a constant when life has been anything but. You’ve been the kind of friend who shows up, who helps in ways big and small—hell, I wouldn’t even have gotten my truck without you. And that’s just one example of many. The world is better with you in it, and I don’t say that lightly.
But I also worry. You know why. The world’s an ugly place for people like you, especially now. I know you can handle yourself—I’ve never doubted that for a second—but I also know that being brave shouldn’t have to mean being in danger. And if things ever go sideways, you know you’ve got a place here. I don’t care if that means setting up the guest room or pulling a full-on Anne Frank situation with the attic. Or basement. You will always have a safe place with me.
I got your back. Always. You never have to apologize for existing.
With love and respect,
~Ron