Bittersweet Farewell

Alan Alda said the best things said come last; people will talk for hours saying nothing much and then linger at the door with words that come with a rush from the heart. I guess this explains why it takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye.

I recently found out that one of my best friends is going abroad to pursue higher education. And all I keep thinking is what am I going to do without her? She assures me that it wouldn’t be any different, what with the internet making you accessible no matter where you are in the world. But, there is something comforting about being in the same country as your friend, even if you don’t meet on a regular basis. There is a sort of relief in knowing that they are there and you can arrange to meet them anytime anywhere.

I also think it is the law of scarcity. You suddenly realize you won’t be seeing that particular person for a long time, your time with them is limited now, and that they won’t be just a phone-call away anymore. 

And so the dreaded hour is here; it’s time to say good-bye. Come to think of it, why are good-byes called so, anyway? What is so good about them? They should be called ‘sad-byes’ or ‘hard-byes.’

But, as with everything in this world, there is always a positive side, a silver lining. But we focus so much on the negative aspect that we fail to see the good. Bidding farewell may be hard but at least I am lucky enough to have someone to say goodbye to. 

I know, I know, it still doesn’t make it easier. I guess my only consolation at this point is that with each passing day, I will be one day further from the last time I saw her and one day closer to the next time I will.

For now though, I have deleted the word ‘good-bye’ from my dictionary, and refuse to utter it. Instead, I have replaced it with ‘until next time.’

Adieu, my dear friend, until we meet again. 

A man's feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of farewell.

– ­­Jean Paul Richter

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected.

– ­­Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook­­

Dedication: Lubna M. Bagsair, my goofball of a friend, partner-in-crime, and fellow food junkie who is moving away temporarily. You will be terribly missed!
 

We went for bowling and Lubna had no socks. Being the gracious person that I am, I lent her one of mine. Now we are sock buddies, like Harry Potter and Dobby!

To read a slightly different version of this same article, click here.