I couldn't be there to watch you open a present this year.
So I made you one you can open from anywhere: Missouri, Montenegro or France.
This is it. Our story, our photos, your best sentences, and a few thousand miles in between.
— Nevena
Chapter one
August 8, 2023 · Central Missouri
The day I met you
Two girls from two different countries, sitting on the grass in front of a building that looked like a castle, with no idea what was coming.
I came to America for a semester. I didn't know I was also coming for a best friend.
Chapter two
Fall 2023 · University of Central Missouri
Our little life in Missouri
Hallways, lectures, late-night snacks, elevator selfies and way too many coffees. Somewhere between the classes and the chaos, you became my home there.
When I was homesick, you were there. When I was tired, confused or overthinking everything, you were there. You were my biggest support on the other side of the world, and I will never forget it.
Chapter three
New York City
Top of the world, literally
Skyscrapers, Central Park in the sun, and the two of us screaming with joy above Manhattan. New York with you is still one of the two best trips of my life.
Chapter four
Chicago
The Windy City
The river, the bridges, the cold, the L train and you falling asleep on it like it was your bed. The other half of my two favourite trips ever.
Chapter five
December 2023
Santa hats and goodbyes
Our last weeks together: Christmas parties, silly hats and one goodbye I wasn't ready for. The semester ended, but somehow we didn't.
A small dictionary
Maeva's English
Your English is broken, and I love every piece of it. Some sentences I will quote for the rest of my life:
Tap a card for the translation
Chapter six
May 2024 · Montenegro
Dobro došla u Crnu Goru
Then you came to me. Lakes, mountains, waterfalls, the sea and lazy evenings on my balcony with snacks on a ladder (only we would do that).
Chapter seven
September & October 2024 · France
Bonjour, Bordeaux
And then it was my turn. Twice. Golden buildings, cafés, your people around a little table, and the two of us laughing on cobblestones like no time had passed.
Distance, who?
All the miles for you
0
miles travelled to be together (give or take an airport)
Dear Maeva,
Happy birthday, my favourite person from France. Joyeux anniversaire, ma belle. Srećan ti rođendan, draga moja.
When I think about America, I don't think about the classes or the exams. I think about you. You marked a huge part of my life, and you made a strange new country feel like home.
Since December 2023 we've had an ocean, a few borders and a lot of airports between us. And still, every time we see each other, it's like we just left the dorm hallway five minutes ago.
I wish you a year as bright as that day on top of New York, as calm as the lake in Montenegro and as funny as you trying to explain that you were "not on the Earth, you were in."
I wish you health, love, adventures and people who take care of you the way you took care of me. Tout le bonheur du monde. Sve najljepše, uvijek.
Thank you for every mile, every laugh and every broken-English sentence I will never forget.
Volim te. Je t'aime.
Your Nevena
One more thing
Your real gift
One trip back to Montenegro
Your bed is ready, the balcony is waiting, and the snack ladder is fully stocked. Come whenever you want. Dobro došla uvijek. 🇲🇪
Scratch the gold
Bon anniversaire
Here's to us,
wherever we are.
Missouri · New York · Chicago · Montenegro · France