Keita had always detested goodbyes with her entire existence.

There was just something about them; something about the finality of them, how it felt like there was no return. The emotion sizzled in the air, weighing heavy, electrocuting those that felt it - those that were connected by it. She couldn't or wouldn't look Max in the eye even though his gaze burned a hole in the middle of both of her eyes.

Keita looked outside. The rain fell like pellets of bullets shot against the window and sliding down in defeat. The clouds mourned with her; heavy and grey - exactly how her heart felt deep inside of her chest.

"I'll be back."

Keita's statement was final and unwavering. She finally looked up at Max, his green eyes finding her's in an instant. Green mixed with brown; longing mixed with loss. Keita couldnt demarcate where it started and ended.

"Promise me," Max spoke quietly.

There was something about the aching pain that shot from his heart to his throat that meant he couldn't trust his voice. But his eyes - his eyes seemed to tell her everything he could not utter, and he had never appreciated their bond as much as he did then.

"I promise, Max. I'll visit. With lots of banana bread, cinnamon buns, and other baked goodies," She smiled.

He did not return it.

Instead he sighed loudly, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Keita, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something I've known for a while but I haven't been able to accept."