How Do I Say Good – Bye?

On the journey of life, there are many winding turns and unforeseen turbulence. One of these is when you have to close the chapter on a relationship that you enjoyed, were comfortable with, or were not ready to let go of. We know that all good things must come to an end, but we’re never really prepared for that end: the pain that’s there or the gaping hole that is left when people leave. We simply assume that those who are with us today will be with us in the years ahead. It is especially difficult when those who left were are main supporters, best cheerleaders or dearest friends. I wrote the following poem after life circumstances separated a dear friend:

It’s not real. This isn’t happening. But it is real because that little pain in my heart won’t let me forget it. It’s funny, I can have all the feelings in the world, but when it comes to that moment of good-bye, I still don’t know what to say. I feel so many things at once and I want to say so many things at once that it all runs together and words fail. Words almost seem inappropriate at that moment. That’s when you hope that in the time that you’ve had together, that you have shown the one you love how you feel; that perhaps in the next chapter of their lives, these very sentiments would carry them in weakness and warm them in the cold.