“This could be the end of everything,
So, why don’t we go somewhere only we know?”
– Keane, “Somewhere Only We Know”
My feet are buried in the sand beneath the weight of my heart. I can feel the sand not just on the surface but as though every grain has settled beneath my skin. The wind brushes a stray strand of hair away from my cheek. The crashing waves, the passing vehicles, and the distant clatter slowly fade into silence. Everything feels more and more suffocating. My eyes fill with tears that I do not dare let spill.
If I had known that this day would come, a day when it would be so hard to say goodbye, I would never have walked into a room full of strangers two years ago. It would have been easier if they had never welcomed me with a warmth that inspired me. I could have moved on if it had never become my safe place, the place where I could express myself without judgment. I wouldn’t feel this way if I hadn’t held onto those emotions for the past two years.
But if it hadn’t been for this place, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I wouldn’t have learned so much about life. I wouldn’t have grown into the person I’m proud to be. I wouldn’t have found friendships I know will last far beyond this moment. I wouldn’t have made memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime. Because this was where all of it became possible.
I hear someone call my name from afar.
“Hey, let’s take a picture!” they shout.
A breathy laugh escapes me. “Let me be emotional for a second!” I wanted to say. Instead, I join them. And I realize that it isn’t just about the place. It’s the people who made it extraordinary. It’s the way they carried the same warmth and spirit from one chapter to the next. And I know that even though it’s time to close this chapter, there will always be a place for me.
The warmth will remain. The feeling of belonging will remain.
And I know it’s never truly goodbye.
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