6 Ways To Say Goodbye (Until You Meet Again)

Goodbyes are not always farewells; sometimes you say goodbye just to meet again. You turn your back and start walking, hearing the sound of his scooty starting up. He's struggling to turn his vehicle in the right direction, trying to maintain its balance. His movements are unsteady, as he's intoxicated and his Crocs are slippery, causing him to momentarily lose his balance. You keep walking casually, as if it doesn't matter at all. He's finally set to ride away, and you desperately want to turn to see him one last time, but you must show him you don't care because you’ve already said- "GOODBYE".

What might have happened if I had done what I truly wanted?

Things I wanted:

• I wished our first evening together would never end. I wished I could spend the entire night talking, discovering his dislikes, the food he despises, what makes him sad, and what he fears the most. I wanted to know about the ugliest scar on his body, the sleepless nights he's endured, and the songs he listens to when he's alone.

Unlike others, I find it fascinating to be part of someone's solitary moments. People can share their happy times with anyone, but only a select few are trusted with someone's sadness. I wanted to be that person for him, a place where he could reveal his vulnerable, not-so-manly, childish side. I wanted to be the one he could cry with, the one who could bring the world to him just to see him smile - cliche, but yeah!

• I wanted to hold his hand and feel its warmth. It wasn't about physical attraction; it was a sense of belonging, like people say, feeling at home. I wanted to look deep into his eyes and see their color, to see if I felt any magic or if it was just the fairy tale illusions from reading too many romantic novels.
• I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder one last time while we smoked together before he moved to another city for his job. I struggled with myself, fighting the urge to do so and possibly ruin our friendship.
• I wished I hadn't been so shy during our meetings and could have been more fun and talkative.
• I wished we could have listened to his favorite songs forever while aimlessly roaming around the entire city. Sometimes, I pretended not to hear him just to get closer. Once during our ride, I even rested my head, pretending to be high and dizzy.
• I wished I could have made him like Boba Tea. I tried to convince him several times, but he stuck to his Coke. "I mean, come on! Eating balls? Not my thing!" His statement left we both bursting into laughter.
• I wished our time together hadn't been so short. I wished we could have shared more beers, gotten high, and laughed until our sides hurt, as if there were no tomorrow.
• I wanted to hug him tightly before he left.
• I wanted to smoke one last cigarette.
• I wanted him to feel the significance of our time together, to appreciate the bond we share, and to see me as his true friend. I hoped our moments would leave an imprint, reminding him of the genuine connection we've built.

Thing that happened:

• He left, that fool.

We often meet people without realizing how special they will become with time. From personal experience, I've learned that you can't force a connection or any bond. If it's meant to be, it happens effortlessly. As we get to know someone and appreciate their presence, we inevitably leave a part of ourselves in the time spent with them. Our happiness, routines, moods, and even health can be influenced by their presence. We form emotional dependencies, creating countless memories that we unknowingly cherish for a lifetime.

However, everything that begins must eventually end. Every 'hello' is inevitably followed by a 'goodbye'. But do these goodbyes truly mark the end, or are they merely a hopeful promise of meeting again? Sometimes, these farewells leave us genuinely saddened, as if all hope of seeing that person again has vanished. Yet, does anything truly end, or is each goodbye simply the start of a new journey? A reminder that our paths may cross once more.

Until then, these partings serve as a testament to the impact people have on our lives, and a promise that, despite the distance and time, the connections forged will endure. Each goodbye is a prelude to the hope of another hello, marking the continuation of a shared journey.

6 Ways We Said GOODBYE to Each Other, Until We Met Again:

1. "Goodbye. Make sure you're ready on time tomorrow. I'll be there to pick you up."- he texted.

That was our first meeting, beginning with a goodbye. I was on time :)

2. "Seems like you're familiar with every corner of the city and have visited nearly all the famous places. But I promise to take you somewhere you've never heard of before. We'll smoke there and you'll love it. See you this evening. Goodbye!"

He took me to the least expected place—a path I had crossed thousands of times before but never truly noticed. It was a nondescript, bustling road where you could see the entire Mussoorie to the right and the city of Dehradun to the left. He suggested we ignore the cars behind and simply sit together. I followed suit. It was after sunset, the sky was beautiful, and we sat in silence, smoking together.

3. "Listen, I have got permission until midnight. Also, I've put together a whole playlist for the ride. Hope you like it," I texted.

"Include 'Mine' by Bazzi. Goodbye," he replied.

4. "Wear red," he insisted firmly.

"You know I don't wear red. But I will, if you come with me to have Boba Tea," I replied with a hint of teasing.

"Dude, how can you even expect me to say yes?"

"No red then."

"Bye," I said before ending the call with a smile.

"Goodbye," he said, sounding a bit disappointed, and hung up abruptly.

Wearing red made me feel too vibrant; I decided not to wear it again. He didn't enjoy the boba tea; instead of drinking it, he fashioned a paper lid for the open glass. Opting for his usual drink, he took a sip of Coke.

5. "I'm outside your hostel. Take your time, but hurry up and come down. We're going to watch the film together. Make it happen, or it's a final goodbye. Take care," he said, his voice carrying a sense of insistence and determination.

We spent the entire night playing UNO with his friends because we couldn't decide what to watch, followed by a morning walk where we held hands for the first time as we navigated an uneven section of the road.

6. He was leaving for his job. I helped him pack his bag alongside his friends. Then he took me to the terrace to smoke a cigarette. We talked about his excitement, his parents' call, the early mornings ahead, and how happy he had been in Dehradun.

"It's a goodbye then?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes with a hint of sadness.

"Maybe," I replied, trying to look away.

"I wish we could work in the same city," he said wistfully.

"Yeah," I murmured.

"Goodbye then, until we meet again" he said softly.

"Goodbye," I echoed.

He left the next morning. This time, the goodbye felt like it was forever, or so I thought. It always made me wonder why he always said goodbye. Then I remembered his words: "Until we meet again." His voice carried a hint of hope and promise, leaving me with a sense of lingering possibility.

Determined not to let it be the end, I took a bold step and decided to move to his city. And what a delightful surprise awaited me – his new girlfriend. Now, the three of us are a picture-perfect trio, watching movies, drinking beer, and yes, I even get the honor of being the judge in their lovers' spats. We've become a cozy little family, with me growing closer to his girlfriend than I ever was to him. Who knew I'd move cities just to become best friends with my ex-crush's new flame? Life sure has a funny way of turning things around. 

Goodbye.