‘She is my soulmate. I’d do anything for her’: readers on their best friends

‘We have recorded each other a voicemail every day, often up to 20 minutes long.’ Claire and Meg standing with their guitars. Photograph: Courtesy of Claire

Friends are great. They listen to your gripes, share meals with you, review risky texts before you send them and generally make life more bearable.

They may also help you live longer. According to the American Psychological Association, people who have close friends and confidants are “more satisfied with their lives and less likely to suffer from depression” and are also “less likely to die from all causes, including heart problems and a range of chronic diseases”.