What do you do when your soulmate/break-glass-in-case-of-emergency guy leaves?

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My best friend of almost 8 years is US-bound this July. His company is sending him there to open a new branch... I think. We have been talking about it and we promised each other that there will be no goodbyes for us and that we will still keep in touch. But in my heart of hearts, I am scared to death. Because even if I know that we will be friends for life, distance matters. I am scared that our friendship, or whatever it is that we have, might slowly dissolve into nothingness. I am scared that he might find someone who'll replace me in his life. I am scared that he will be happy there... on his own... Without me... Despite my absence. And I am trying so hard to not be affected too much, I am trying to keep up this facade that I am okay with him leaving for good, but some nights, it just gets to me, and I find myself hugging my knees, gasping for air. What do I do to minimize the pain, the longing? Find another? My friend told me that there will come a time when I will eventually find someone, not as a replacement, but as a buffer of sorts. I told her I was torn between saying "I hope so," and "I don't want to." She says the first is a manifestation of being hopeful, the second, of being tragic. I guess that's what I am right now. Torn... Confused... Empty... Tragically hopeful.