Goodbye

     I've always known that this day would come, the day when goodbye is no longer able to be procrastinated and must be said and heard. As much as I wanted to believe it was so far away, all along it was right at my doorstep, waiting for the invite into the home of my speech. Up until now, goodbye has always been a memory of sadness. There has never been a case where "goodbye" left a great memory in my mind. Contrary to what I believed, goodbye is a lot more than a mopey word that leaves unhappy feelings.

     Goodbye brings out the true and genuine feelings. Feelings of sadness, feelings of joy, and old feelings that you reminisce with others. Goodbye shows you true friends and worst enemies. It's something that none of want to say but somehow end up finding it anxiously waiting on the tip of our tongue.

     Tonight, goodbye came as something I never experienced before. Goodbye did not show up on my doorstep in its suit of sadness as it had in the past, rather, it let itself in with a coat of hope and crown of love. The goodbyes I gave tonight did not leave me with feelings of sadness and depression as I had thought. Though I felt sad saying goodbye, tonight's goodbyes were hopeful. I looked into the eyes of three loved ones tonight. Through tears and sparkles in their eyes, I was able to see further down the road. I was able to see past the temporary sadness tears would leave me, and I saw the joy of being with these people in the future. Promises, oaths, thank you's, and torch hand-offs.

     I looked into the eyes of a brother with trust as he took my place. I looked into the eyes of a mentor with gratitude as he sent me off. I looked into the eyes of a loved one with love and hope as we exchanged what wouldn't be the last hug. Even as I type this emotions are taking hold of my eyes, but I still see the trust, gratitude, love and hope of tonight's goodbye.

This is not the end. This is not goodbye. This is not the last.

This is hope. This is love. This is trust.

A new chapter awaits me.

MR; JS; DW