“…goodbye.” She speaks first. It hurts but it comes out smoothly enough. No sandpaper throat like expected. In a cruel, cruel way, she’s relieved when she sees a look- no more than a fleeting sigh really- come across his face following the word.

He did care.

Does care.

“Goodbye.” He reiterates. His smile is something.

He turns to leave, bound for Japan or Canada or some other faraway where. They have agreed not to share. Her eyes remain glued to his back, holding the image of his strong shoulders, his matter hair in her arms for as long as she could.

She thinks, for but a moment before he’s lost into the swell of travelers, that she could catch up to him, take his hand and do the other thing they said they shouldn’t do. She’s lost in this perfect, unreal moment…

Until she’s not. And he’s still gone.

Bound for parts unknown and never known. Not to her at least…