Goodbye....

 “You have reached your destination”, said the GPS as I got out of the black cab. The cool November wind felt icy against my cheeks where not too long ago silent tears had rolled down. I followed my parents inside the big building feeling calm, as the warmth inside wrapped around me like a blanket.  After that, everything was a blur. When we were through airport security and at the boarding gate all I could remember was buying a pack of Tutti Frutti gum. I boarded the plane sitting in the window seat. As we took off, the airport became smaller and smaller. Down below, the staff in their bright orange vests now looked like streaks of neon light. Looking down at the clouds from the massive engine all I could think about was the night before……..

It was around 5pm when I called her. She told me she was doing homework, so she couldn't come out to play just yet. I waited, but eventually ended up going to her house. To this day, I still remember the smallest of details like who opened the front door, the clothes I was wearing, and who led me down the stairs to the basement. Her house was quiet, which was unusual. When I was half way down the stairs there was a loud shout,  “surprise”! In response I gave out a startled scream. But within seconds it turned into a joyful one. I was so lucky to have friends like them. Then the party began. It had all my favorites, my favorite Mexican dip my friends mom made, my favorite games, my favorite people. I was given a special chair to sit on and then I listened to countless hours of memories. As twilight came and the flowers closed up, the party came to an end. Some left but those who were closest to me stayed and of course we had a sleepover, the very last one. The next day, Sunday, the sun was shining bright but the air was chilly. The last thing my mom and I did in our house together was clearing out the pantry, giving away a pack of lasagna and a box of instant pink lemonade. My two best friends and I were out on the cul de sac saying our last goodbyes and then the black cab pulled up. I sat inside opposite to my mom, she put a hand on my knee and asked, “you okay”? I nodded in response, looking out the window, waving with one hand and wiping my face with the other. That was it. That was the very last goodbye.

“I have a grilled veggie sandwich and mac-n-cheese”, said the flight attendant. What would you like”? I ate my macaroni while watching minions on the plane. As I stared out the window into the darkness I couldn't help but think about what adventures waited for me in this land I had only heard so much about. 

We all have to say goodbye, but this one word has so many meanings. You say bye to someone you're going to see tomorrow. You say bye to someone when you are ending a phone call. Some bye’s are eagerly waited for, like saying bye to this pandemic. But other bye’s you wish would never happen, like saying bye to your loved ones. Sometimes you're the one saying bye and other times someone is saying bye to you. You never know if it's the last bye you will say to that person, maybe it's just one of the countless number of bye’s you will say. But one thing is for sure, every goodbye brings a new beginning. When you take a big leap like moving across the world, you never forget that goodbye. Even if that goodbye is unexpectedly the last one you're going to say, you still remember it because when it's the last one, it means something. I bet you remember what you did the day before everything was shut down. Did you know that tomorrow there would be no school or office to go to, no exam to give. You didn't, I didn't. But I still remember the last day, the day before the lockdowns. Do you?

“Please get back to your seats and buckle your seat belts, we will be landing shortly”, said the air hostess. I felt a wave of excitement wash over me. New country, new house, new school, new friends, and a new beginning. As we came out of the airport I felt the dense and humid air all around. People shuffling their feet moving this way and that as if they were going to miss a train. The streets were packed with all sorts of vehicles. We pulled up near a big, old, beautiful, sturdy looking house. I caught a glimpse of my grandfather helping my dad with the luggage. “Welcome”, he said, “to your new home”:)