The Goodbye I Never Wanted to Say | by nysha | Oct, 2025
(Personal Essay)
Kylie, Aaron, and I. My two best friends and I. Sitting at the park we had been at so many times before. Reminiscing about all our moments together, while knowing somewhere in the back of our minds that today would be the last one. Our conversation, full of laughter, remember when’s, and the quiet feeling of not truly knowing when we would all be together again.
I jump back to the past, thinking about the first time I met them, almost two years ago. We were in the same classroom, spending time with our own friends; not knowing that once we each stepped into each other’s lives, it would feel like we truly started living. Suddenly, I’m taken to my birthday, the day that I truly felt like I would never be alone if I had my best friends by my side. As I blew out my candles at the incredible surprise party they
threw me, I made a wish that nothing would ever change, and we would be like this forever. Unfortunately, that wish didn’t come true.
The flashback erupts to that day that would change everything. I’m pacing back and forth, waiting for my friends to show up. When they finally show up, I ask them to sit down. I whispered those two words that forever changed the course of our friendship.
“I’m moving,” I said.
Then the air was quiet, as they processed what I had just said. Five seconds later, I was bombarded with a million questions.
“Are you joking?” Kylie asked, looking at me, almost begging me to say yes.
“When are you leaving?” Aaron questioned. “Why?”
I asked them to calm down as I answered their questions.
“No, I’m not joking. Although I wish I was. I’m leaving in July, 6 months from now.” I explained.
The next hour was filled with more questions and many hugs. After that day, we made sure to make every time together meaningful. Our days full of parties, sleepovers, and sometimes just being with each other.
Finally, I’m transported back to the present. Knowing that no matter how many memories I reminisce in, they would always be memories. There was a suppressing silence, no one really knowing what to say.
Suddenly, Aaron clears his throat, which could only mean one thing. He has to go home now. We slowly started to get up, walking towards the main gate. While we were waiting for his parents to arrive, we quietly talked, pretending that it wasn’t the last time. Finally, his parents’
car slowed to a stop. Aaron sighed, silently looking at me.
“Bye Nysha, have a great time, be safe, and keep in touch, okay?” he mumbled.
“Aww, bye Aaron. Thank you, you too, okay?” I said. We hugged each other one last time and Kylie and I waved to him as he walked to his car. Kylie and I slowly walked back to the park. We went on the swings together, slowly swinging around, talking about our past. As time inched by, we knew it would be time to go home soon. Suddenly, my phone started blaring. It was my mom. I looked at Kylie, knowing that I would be going home soon.
She walked me over to my house and we hugged for what felt like forever. Finally, I pulled away, walking towards my door. As I waved goodbye to her, it finally hit me like a ton of bricks, that I won’t be seeing her for a long time.
As I walked through the door, I thought about how important these friendships were to me. All the memories we made throughout the years. I knew that we would always have that between us. No matter where our lives take us, we would forever have that part of each other in
our hearts.
