Goodbyes used to be hard for me

Because I was under the impression

That goodbye meant "So long,

Forever"

Or worse,

"I'm leaving and not coming back

Because life is so much better

Without the people here."

 

What can I say?

I've had terrible examples of goodbyes

From people that I loved

They left in anger

And sealed my lips

With cruel words

And telling me I didn't understand

Because I was a child

 

Goodbyes meant "Farewell for good"

And though we promised to stay in touch

We forgot

And lost the letters with the adresses

Scrawled by our much younger hands

We forgot

We lost touch

As I feared we would

So yes, "Goodbye" was for good.

 

But I've learned that's not always true

At least, that's what I hope

I've said goodbyes

A hundred times by now

Perhaps a thousand

And each time, I've returned

Or they've come back

And we silently rejoice

That it wasn't goodbye for good

 

A family friend passed away

Almost a year ago

And I said goodbye

(For the last time where he could hear me)

In passing, after Christmas

And I said goodbye one final time

At his funeral

And that goodbye was the hardest

I've had yet to whisper

 

But I know now that

For the most part

I will see the ones I say goodbye to

At least one more time

And I've taught myself

To remember a hopeful fact

That "goodbye" isn't always followed by

The mournful "forever"

Sometimes "goodbye" is just "goodbye"

With an unspoken "Until next time"

Trailing at the end

 

Having to say farewell

Isn't always easy

And sometimes it rips your heart to shreds

And crushes your lungs

And fractures your chest

Saying goodbye can hurt you

Goodbyes are hardly ever fun

 

But what I've learned

Is goodbye isn't always forever

And I'll see them again tomorrow

Or next week

Or next month

Or maybe in a few hours

Whenever we meet again,

My goodbyes are silent promises

"Until we meet again, my friend,

And then I'll greet you with the opposite.

 

I'll greet you with 'Hello'."