The Final Goodbye

I stood alone, watching her walk away for the last time.  Handing over her boarding pass.  Walking through the gate.  She looked back; just long enough for the light to bounce off the tear line that stained her cheek.  It mirrored mine.  I looked down at the letter she had left me.  It warmed me like her smile.  She told me to open it once she left.  Staring down at the letter, it made me think back to the day, among the snow, when I first saw that smile.



Encased by chilled white snow, the blue and white concrete prison almost seemed welcoming.  A deep silver gray had inked through the sky until it bleed out.  Leaving only stains on the cotton candy clouds, as evidence of the storm that had just past. 



But she hadn’t seen what we had.  She was new, fresh, unknowing, unsuspecting.  She stood alone at the entrance to the school, gazing out over the parking lot.  Boys throwing snow balls at their unsuspecting classmates.  Girls gossiping excitedly as they made their way through the flurry of ice and snow.  I walked towards her, feeling intimidating.  My tall, dark frame was draped with my oldest hoodie and my basketball shorts.  Boys yelled my name and girls winked as they crunched their way through the settling snow.



She stood there to the left of the doors, wrapped in her long white winter coat, hugging it to her, like a shield.  Her eyes panned from left to right and back again.  Looking for something.  I stared at her, trying to figure her out.  She stood proud and tall, yet her eyes didn’t reflect it. Her long blonde was whipping in all directions with the wind.  Her collar was turned up against it.  Protecting her from the harsh finger it seemed like everyone was giving her. 



But still, she just stood there.  Watching the West Liberty High students talking, playing their little games. Some of them watched her too.  Yet, everyone’s stares were different.  Her’s were warm, welcoming, wanting to be a part of it all.  The girls, they treated her like competition; they returned her smiles with glares.  Critical, analysing, hurtful.  But that was better then what she got from the guys.  Though they handed back her smile, they were misleading, they never saw her as a person.



Her confidence faded.  Shy for only a second before making her way over the ice-covered black top, taking a seat on the cold bench that held her as she cradled her knees to her chest.  From where i stood, her arms were the only thing to stop her from crumbling into a thousand pieces, mingling with snow.



She didn’t look up as i made my way over.  Her chin was resting on her knees.  The smile was no longer painted on her face.  Now, her face was stained with crystals that froze to her cheeks.



“Can I?” was all that it needed.  She beamed up at me.  Her face was glowing; a warm gold, she lifted her eyes, the warmth from her smile over took them.



Staring down at my hands, now, six months later, all they hold is her letter.  I opened it carefully, not wanting to damage a thing.  Shielded by the plain white envelope was a photo.  Bent, dog eared and crinkled.  Yet still perfect.  It was us.  It felt like a life time ago.  We were sitting on the bench to the left of the entrance to West Liberty High School.  She was smiling her smile that warmed the world.  Her head was resting on my shoulder.  My head was resting on hers.