THIS IS FAREWELL

     I can’t seem to plaster on a smile as I was walking on stage. Today’s finally our graduation day, a joyous and unforgettable day for all, but I feel rather miserable and lonely. Is there something missing? Am I like this because I am leaving high school? Maybe, but I don’t think that’s it. 

“Where are you?”, I asked my friend as I called him for the umpteenth time on the phone. “It’s our graduation day, yet you’re still late? You’re still the same as ever.”, I told him. We were best friends for about 12 years now, but he still kept his annoying habit of being late.

An hour later, he arrived with a sheepish smile, with me glaring at him for making us late again. “Only a few names left before both of you get called on stage,” our other friends texted us. “We have to hurry!”, I told him while dragging him across the corridor. As I opened the auditorium’s door, I heard a loud buzzing sound of a blaring alarm.

Ring ring ring! Wake up, it’s 7:30 a.m.! I woke up with tears streaming down my cheeks as I was greeted by the morning sun. I shut my alarm off and prepared to go to school. What a bad day to start the day. Of all the days I could dream about him— it just has to be today. Yes, this is exactly why I was feeling depressed. There’s someone I miss, someone I would never see once again, and someone I never thought would leave me. Yes, that’s exactly it. It’s been a while since I last spoke with him, but I still can’t seem to believe that that was the last time I could.

Well— missing him would be an understatement.

  After bidding my farewells to my batchmates, I immediately went to visit his house. I greeted his mom, who looked just as melancholic as I was. She greeted me with a nod back and handed me a few letters. I swallowed the tears forming in my throat as I held the letters.

The letters were from my best friend to which he addressed them to all of his closest companions. His letter read: “To my one and only best friend, I’m sorry for keeping my illness from you. I didn’t want to make the few moments that we had left glum. I know that I was always late, but this time I left you too soon. I am sorry for making you feel alone, but always remember to chin up because I am always right there by your side, cheering and rooting for you every step of the way as I did before. I hope that you’ll move on with life knowing this. Thank you for being an amazing friend and for all these wonderful memories we have made… Let’s meet again sometime, shall we?”

I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably as I read his letter. By the time I was done reading his letter, I was already bawling my eyes out. This was the closure that I needed, I needed to hear his last words. Although the pain of losing him won’t immediately go away, maybe in time I’ll slowly learn how to live without him being physically here for me. As I move on to the next chapter of my life, I’ll remember him with a smile, together with the memories we made together. I won’t ever forget you, farewell, my dear best friend. Someday, we shall meet again.