Fare Thee Well, My Dear Friend

I felt like a rock hit my stomach.
At the same time, all the air whooshed out of my lungs.
Choking....

Moving?
On Saturday?

Blindsided.

There was a Farewell Party in two days.  Of course we were going, but why am I saying goodbye?  They weren't supposed to be moving.  They were being content where God had put them.

Living 2 miles away from me.

She is everything I'm not.
She has style.  I do not.
She is fairly laidback under pressure.  I am not.
She is outta my league socially.
But she is my friend.
And she likes me, understands me.

I was heard and appreciated whenever I saw her.
She was a rock in my life. We didn't see them very often, but they were always there.  In less than a week, they are moving away.

We made it to the Farewell Party.  I tried to have a good time.  I tried to laugh and smile.  Maybe I did, but the whole time I was fighting back tears.  I was shoving them back under my eyelids.  When I felt the prickles on my cheek, I gulped, took a deep breath, and tried to involve myself in an animated conversation with anyone around me.

What books are you reading?  What do you think about year round school?  What did you neighbor say?
Anything to keep my mind off the move.  Anything to not think about what was happening?

Then, it was time to corral the kids.  It was time to leave.
I hugged her.
And I sobbed softly on her shoulder.

It wasn't a big joke to get us together.  This was real, and I had to let her go.
I'm not happy for them.  Not yet.  Maybe in a month, but right now my heart hurts.

-Just Write