Goodbye

I don’t quite remember how old I was, but I remember it was almost summer. Oscar was my best friend. I was homeschooled, but Oscar went to public school. Yet every day after school we would meet at the park. Usually we would swing and play together for hours, but this time it was different.

A dark aura hung over Oscar, the light that once filled his eyes was gone. We sat on the park bench, he…he seems so scared. And that made me scared. I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t know how to react.

We sat in silence. After a while he turned toward me and managed to say, “ I need to tell you something.” As I choked out, “I want to talk to you.”

“Oh, you go first.” Oscar said.

“N-no you.”

“It’s just...my dad got a job across the country...we’re moving.”

I didn’t know what to say, I was shocked, hurt, scared. “ I have to pack,” Oscar mumbled, “and I...I only have a moment to say goodbye. So…” he stood up, his head low, “goodbye.”

A tear ran down his cheek as he choked back sobs and darted away. I stood up and nearly tripped. I tried to speak but my voice was gone, “wait….I love you.” I should have run after him… but I didn’t.

I just stood there and cried.

Like a baby.