diff --git a/packages/api/.env.development b/packages/api/.env.development
index 6b35865..95d58c9 100644
--- a/packages/api/.env.development
+++ b/packages/api/.env.development
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING=mongodb+srv://default:M9iZXokJlZpN4KLX@cluster0.mkuqa.mongodb.net/default?retryWrites=true&w=majority
\ No newline at end of file
+MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING=mongodb+srv://default:M9iZXokJlZpN4KLX@cluster0.mkuqa.mongodb.net/default?retryWrites=true&w=majority
+
+JWT_TOKEN_SECRET=afajdslfwk1@lkkasdfl21ASDF!2
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/api/config.ts b/packages/api/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06f1d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import dotenv from "dotenv";
+
+if (process.env && process.env.NODE_ENV === "development") {
+  dotenv.config({ path: ".env.development" });
+} else {
+  dotenv.config({ path: ".env" });
+}
+
+export const loadConfig = () => {
+  return {
+    MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING: process.env.MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING!,
+    JWT_TOKEN_SECRET: process.env.JWT_TOKEN_SECRET!,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/api/index.ts b/packages/api/index.ts
index 38ea2fb..1ed2a38 100644
--- a/packages/api/index.ts
+++ b/packages/api/index.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,9 @@ import { UserService } from "./services/user.service";
 import { UserStatus } from "@nirvana/core/models";
 import { connectToDatabase } from "./services/database.service";
 import cors from "cors";
-import getContactsRoutes from "./routes/contacts";
 import getConversationRoutes from "./routes/conversation";
 import getSearchRoutes from "./routes/search";
 import getUserRoutes from "./routes/user";
-import http from "http";
 
 const app = express();
 
@@ -28,7 +26,6 @@ app.get("/", (req: Request, res: Response) => {
 app.use("/api/user", getUserRoutes());
 app.use("/api/search", getSearchRoutes());
 app.use("/api/conversations", getConversationRoutes());
-app.use("/api/contacts", getContactsRoutes());
 
 const PORT = 5000;
 var server = app.listen(PORT, () => console.log("express running"));
diff --git a/packages/api/package.json b/packages/api/package.json
index c6e3c6e..8599526 100644
--- a/packages/api/package.json
+++ b/packages/api/package.json
@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@
     "@nirvana/core": "*",
     "axios": "^0.26.1",
     "cors": "^2.8.5",
+    "dotenv": "^16.0.0",
     "express": "^4.17.3",
     "google-auth-library": "^7.14.0",
+    "jsonwebtoken": "^8.5.1",
     "mongodb": "^4.4.1",
     "socket.io": "^4.4.1"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "dev": "NODE_ENV=development && nodemon",
+    "dev": "NODE_ENV=development nodemon",
     "start": "ts-node index.ts",
-    "production": "NODE_ENV=production && nodemon"
+    "production": "NODE_ENV=production nodemon"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/express": "^4.17.13",
diff --git a/packages/api/routes/contacts.ts b/packages/api/routes/contacts.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 61b00da..0000000
--- a/packages/api/routes/contacts.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,127 +0,0 @@
-import GetContactsResponse, {
-  ContactDetails,
-} from "../../core/responses/getContacts.response";
-import Relationship, {
-  RelationshipState,
-} from "@nirvana/core/models/relationship.model";
-import express, { Application, Request, Response } from "express";
-
-import { ContactService } from "../services/contact.service";
-import { ObjectId } from "mongodb";
-import UpdateRelationshipStateRequest from "../../core/requests/updateRelationshipState.request";
-import { UserService } from "../services/user.service";
-import { authCheck } from "../middleware/auth";
-import { collections } from "../services/database.service";
-
-export default function getContactsRoutes() {
-  const router = express.Router();
-
-  router.use(express.json());
-
-  // see all of my contacts
-  router.get("/", authCheck, getAllContacts);
-
-  // send a friend request
-  router.post("/:otherUserGoogleId", authCheck, addContact);
-
-  router.put("/", authCheck, updateRelationshipState);
-
-  return router;
-}
-
-// todo optimization with mongo lookups and such
-async function getAllContacts(req: Request, res: Response) {
-  try {
-    const { userId } = res.locals;
-
-    const resultRelationships = await ContactService.getAllUserRelationships(
-      userId
-    );
-
-    const responseObj = new GetContactsResponse();
-
-    // get all of the other users based on these relationships and join them
-    await Promise.all(
-      resultRelationships.map(async (relationship) => {
-        const otherUserId =
-          relationship.receiverUserId === userId
-            ? relationship.senderUserId
-            : relationship.receiverUserId;
-
-        const otherUser = await UserService.getUserByGoogleId(otherUserId);
-
-        if (otherUser)
-          responseObj.contactsDetails.push(
-            new ContactDetails(otherUser, relationship)
-          );
-      })
-    );
-
-    res.status(200).send(responseObj);
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.log(error);
-    res.status(500).send(`something went wrong`);
-  }
-}
-
-async function addContact(req: Request, res: Response) {
-  try {
-    // get the userId of the person to add as a friend/contact
-    const { otherUserGoogleId } = req.params;
-    const { userId } = res.locals;
-
-    if (!otherUserGoogleId) {
-      res.status(400).send("No contact id provided!");
-      return;
-    }
-
-    if (otherUserGoogleId === userId) {
-      res.status(400).send("Can't add yourself!");
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // validations
-    // make sure that we are not adding a friend that already has added us
-
-    const newRelationship = new Relationship(
-      userId,
-      otherUserGoogleId,
-      RelationshipState.PENDING
-    );
-
-    const insertResult = await ContactService.createRelationship(
-      newRelationship
-    );
-
-    newRelationship._id = insertResult?.insertedId;
-
-    insertResult
-      ? res.status(200).send(newRelationship)
-      : res.status(500).send("Failed to create relationship, already exists");
-
-    return;
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.log(error);
-    res.status(500).send(`something went wrong`);
-  }
-}
-
-async function updateRelationshipState(req: Request, res: Response) {
-  try {
-    // get the userId of the person to add as a friend/contact
-    const requestObj = req.body as UpdateRelationshipStateRequest;
-
-    const updateResult = await ContactService.updateRelationshipState(
-      requestObj.relationshipId,
-      requestObj.newState
-    );
-
-    updateResult?.modifiedCount
-      ? res.status(200).send("Updated state of relationship")
-      : res.status(500).send("Failed to update relationship");
-
-    return;
-  } catch (error) {
-    res.status(500).send(`something went wrong`);
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/api/routes/conversation.ts b/packages/api/routes/conversation.ts
index 14d8773..267615b 100644
--- a/packages/api/routes/conversation.ts
+++ b/packages/api/routes/conversation.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import express, { Application, Request, Response } from "express";
 
-import { ContactService } from "../services/contact.service";
 import Content from "@nirvana/core/models/content.model";
 import GetConversationDetailsResponse from "@nirvana/core/responses/getConversationDetails.response";
 import { ObjectId } from "mongodb";
@@ -15,47 +14,7 @@ export default function getConversationRoutes() {
   router.use(express.json());
 
   // get data for a one on one conversation
-  router.get("/:otherUserGoogleUserId", authCheck, getConversationDetails);
+  // router.get("/:otherUserGoogleUserId", authCheck, getConversationDetails);
 
   return router;
 }
-
-async function getConversationDetails(req: Request, res: Response) {
-  try {
-    // google user Id of current user
-    const { userId } = res.locals;
-    const { otherUserGoogleUserId } = req.params;
-
-    // get the "other" user's details
-
-    const otherUser = await UserService.getUserByGoogleId(
-      otherUserGoogleUserId
-    );
-
-    if (!otherUser) {
-      res.status(404).send("No such user found");
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // find the relationship between us...if not there just null
-    const ourRelationship = await ContactService.getRelationship(
-      userId,
-      otherUserGoogleUserId
-    );
-
-    // todo: get latest content based on limit count
-    const latestContent: Content[] = [];
-
-    const resObj = new GetConversationDetailsResponse(
-      otherUser,
-      false,
-      ourRelationship ?? undefined,
-      latestContent
-    );
-
-    res.status(200).send(resObj);
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.log(error);
-    res.status(500).send(`something went wrong`);
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/api/services/contact.service.ts b/packages/api/services/contact.service.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index c7151a5..0000000
--- a/packages/api/services/contact.service.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
-import { Db, ObjectId } from "mongodb";
-import Relationship, {
-  RelationshipState,
-} from "@nirvana/core/models/relationship.model";
-
-import { collections } from "./database.service";
-
-export class ContactService {
-  static async getAllUserRelationships(userId: string) {
-    const query = {
-      $or: [{ senderUserId: userId }, { receiverUserId: userId }],
-    };
-    const res = (await collections.relationships
-      ?.find(query)
-      .toArray()) as Relationship[];
-
-    return res;
-  }
-
-  static async getRelationship(
-    myGoogleUserId: string,
-    otherGoogleUserId: string
-  ) {
-    // i am the sender and they are the receiver
-    const clauseOne = {
-      $and: [
-        { senderUserId: myGoogleUserId },
-        { receiverUserId: otherGoogleUserId },
-      ],
-    };
-    // i could also be the receiver and them the sender
-    const clauseTwo = {
-      $and: [
-        { senderUserId: otherGoogleUserId },
-        { receiverUserId: myGoogleUserId },
-      ],
-    };
-
-    const query = { $or: [clauseOne, clauseTwo] };
-    const res = await collections.relationships?.findOne(query);
-
-    // exists
-    if (res?._id) {
-      return res as Relationship;
-    }
-
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  static async createRelationship(newRelationship: Relationship) {
-    // i am the sender and they are the receiver
-    const relationshipRes = await this.getRelationship(
-      newRelationship.senderUserId,
-      newRelationship.receiverUserId
-    );
-
-    if (relationshipRes) {
-      throw new Error("Already exists");
-    }
-
-    const insertResult = await collections.relationships?.insertOne(
-      newRelationship
-    );
-
-    return insertResult;
-  }
-
-  static async updateRelationshipState(
-    relationshipId: ObjectId,
-    newState: RelationshipState
-  ) {
-    const query = { _id: new ObjectId(relationshipId) };
-    const updateDoc = {
-      $set: { state: newState, lastUpdatedDate: new Date() },
-    };
-    const result = await collections.relationships?.updateOne(query, updateDoc);
-
-    return result;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/api/services/database.service.ts b/packages/api/services/database.service.ts
index 09f3c11..8ea500c 100644
--- a/packages/api/services/database.service.ts
+++ b/packages/api/services/database.service.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 // External Dependencies
 import * as mongoDB from "mongodb";
-// import * as dotenv from "dotenv";
+
+import { loadConfig } from "../config";
 
 // Global Variables
-
 export const collections: {
   users?: mongoDB.Collection;
-  relationships?: mongoDB.Collection;
 } = {};
 
 // Initialize Connection
 export async function connectToDatabase() {
+  const config = loadConfig();
+
   const client: mongoDB.MongoClient = new mongoDB.MongoClient(
-    "mongodb+srv://default:M9iZXokJlZpN4KLX@cluster0.mkuqa.mongodb.net/default?retryWrites=true&w=majority"
+    config.MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING
   );
 
   await client.connect();
@@ -20,11 +21,8 @@ export async function connectToDatabase() {
   const db: mongoDB.Db = client.db(process.env.DB_NAME);
 
   const usersCollection: mongoDB.Collection = db.collection("users");
-  const relationshipCollection: mongoDB.Collection =
-    db.collection("relationships");
 
   collections.users = usersCollection;
-  collections.relationships = relationshipCollection;
 
   console.log(
     `Successfully connected to database: ${db.databaseName} and collections`
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 3c40d7f..1d32b91 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3013,6 +3013,11 @@ dot-prop@^6.0.1:
   dependencies:
     is-obj "^2.0.0"
 
+dotenv@^16.0.0:
+  version "16.0.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.0.0.tgz#c619001253be89ebb638d027b609c75c26e47411"
+  integrity sha512-qD9WU0MPM4SWLPJy/r2Be+2WgQj8plChsyrCNQzW/0WjvcJQiKQJ9mH3ZgB3fxbUUxgc/11ZJ0Fi5KiimWGz2Q==
+
 duplexer3@^0.1.4:
   version "0.1.4"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/duplexer3/-/duplexer3-0.1.4.tgz"
@@ -5222,6 +5227,22 @@ jsonfile@^6.0.1:
   optionalDependencies:
     graceful-fs "^4.1.6"
 
+jsonwebtoken@^8.5.1:
+  version "8.5.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/jsonwebtoken/-/jsonwebtoken-8.5.1.tgz#00e71e0b8df54c2121a1f26137df2280673bcc0d"
+  integrity sha512-XjwVfRS6jTMsqYs0EsuJ4LGxXV14zQybNd4L2r0UvbVnSF9Af8x7p5MzbJ90Ioz/9TI41/hTCvznF/loiSzn8w==
+  dependencies:
+    jws "^3.2.2"
+    lodash.includes "^4.3.0"
+    lodash.isboolean "^3.0.3"
+    lodash.isinteger "^4.0.4"
+    lodash.isnumber "^3.0.3"
+    lodash.isplainobject "^4.0.6"
+    lodash.isstring "^4.0.1"
+    lodash.once "^4.0.0"
+    ms "^2.1.1"
+    semver "^5.6.0"
+
 jsprim@^1.2.2:
   version "1.4.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/jsprim/-/jsprim-1.4.2.tgz#712c65533a15c878ba59e9ed5f0e26d5b77c5feb"
@@ -5245,6 +5266,15 @@ junk@^3.1.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/junk/-/junk-3.1.0.tgz#31499098d902b7e98c5d9b9c80f43457a88abfa1"
   integrity sha512-pBxcB3LFc8QVgdggvZWyeys+hnrNWg4OcZIU/1X59k5jQdLBlCsYGRQaz234SqoRLTCgMH00fY0xRJH+F9METQ==
 
+jwa@^1.4.1:
+  version "1.4.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/jwa/-/jwa-1.4.1.tgz#743c32985cb9e98655530d53641b66c8645b039a"
+  integrity sha512-qiLX/xhEEFKUAJ6FiBMbes3w9ATzyk5W7Hvzpa/SLYdxNtng+gcurvrI7TbACjIXlsJyr05/S1oUhZrc63evQA==
+  dependencies:
+    buffer-equal-constant-time "1.0.1"
+    ecdsa-sig-formatter "1.0.11"
+    safe-buffer "^5.0.1"
+
 jwa@^2.0.0:
   version "2.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/jwa/-/jwa-2.0.0.tgz"
@@ -5254,6 +5284,14 @@ jwa@^2.0.0:
     ecdsa-sig-formatter "1.0.11"
     safe-buffer "^5.0.1"
 
+jws@^3.2.2:
+  version "3.2.2"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/jws/-/jws-3.2.2.tgz#001099f3639468c9414000e99995fa52fb478304"
+  integrity sha512-YHlZCB6lMTllWDtSPHz/ZXTsi8S00usEV6v1tjq8tOUZzw7DpSDWVXjXDre6ed1w/pd495ODpHZYSdkRTsa0HA==
+  dependencies:
+    jwa "^1.4.1"
+    safe-buffer "^5.0.1"
+
 jws@^4.0.0:
   version "4.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/jws/-/jws-4.0.0.tgz"
@@ -5387,11 +5425,46 @@ lodash.get@^4.0.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.get/-/lodash.get-4.4.2.tgz#2d177f652fa31e939b4438d5341499dfa3825e99"
   integrity sha1-LRd/ZS+jHpObRDjVNBSZ36OCXpk=
 
+lodash.includes@^4.3.0:
+  version "4.3.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.includes/-/lodash.includes-4.3.0.tgz#60bb98a87cb923c68ca1e51325483314849f553f"
+  integrity sha1-YLuYqHy5I8aMoeUTJUgzFISfVT8=
+
+lodash.isboolean@^3.0.3:
+  version "3.0.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.isboolean/-/lodash.isboolean-3.0.3.tgz#6c2e171db2a257cd96802fd43b01b20d5f5870f6"
+  integrity sha1-bC4XHbKiV82WgC/UOwGyDV9YcPY=
+
+lodash.isinteger@^4.0.4:
+  version "4.0.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.isinteger/-/lodash.isinteger-4.0.4.tgz#619c0af3d03f8b04c31f5882840b77b11cd68343"
+  integrity sha1-YZwK89A/iwTDH1iChAt3sRzWg0M=
+
+lodash.isnumber@^3.0.3:
+  version "3.0.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.isnumber/-/lodash.isnumber-3.0.3.tgz#3ce76810c5928d03352301ac287317f11c0b1ffc"
+  integrity sha1-POdoEMWSjQM1IwGsKHMX8RwLH/w=
+
+lodash.isplainobject@^4.0.6:
+  version "4.0.6"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.isplainobject/-/lodash.isplainobject-4.0.6.tgz#7c526a52d89b45c45cc690b88163be0497f550cb"
+  integrity sha1-fFJqUtibRcRcxpC4gWO+BJf1UMs=
+
+lodash.isstring@^4.0.1:
+  version "4.0.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.isstring/-/lodash.isstring-4.0.1.tgz#d527dfb5456eca7cc9bb95d5daeaf88ba54a5451"
+  integrity sha1-1SfftUVuynzJu5XV2ur4i6VKVFE=
+
 lodash.merge@^4.6.2:
   version "4.6.2"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.merge/-/lodash.merge-4.6.2.tgz"
   integrity sha512-0KpjqXRVvrYyCsX1swR/XTK0va6VQkQM6MNo7PqW77ByjAhoARA8EfrP1N4+KlKj8YS0ZUCtRT/YUuhyYDujIQ==
 
+lodash.once@^4.0.0:
+  version "4.1.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.once/-/lodash.once-4.1.1.tgz#0dd3971213c7c56df880977d504c88fb471a97ac"
+  integrity sha1-DdOXEhPHxW34gJd9UEyI+0cal6w=
+
 lodash.template@^4.2.2:
   version "4.5.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.template/-/lodash.template-4.5.0.tgz#f976195cf3f347d0d5f52483569fe8031ccce8ab"
@@ -7612,7 +7685,7 @@ semver-diff@^3.1.1:
   dependencies:
     semver "^6.3.0"
 
-"semver@2 || 3 || 4 || 5", semver@^5.5.0, semver@^5.7.1:
+"semver@2 || 3 || 4 || 5", semver@^5.5.0, semver@^5.6.0, semver@^5.7.1:
   version "5.7.1"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/semver/-/semver-5.7.1.tgz"
   integrity sha512-sauaDf/PZdVgrLTNYHRtpXa1iRiKcaebiKQ1BJdpQlWH2lCvexQdX55snPFyK7QzpudqbCI0qXFfOasHdyNDGQ==