“I…I think I’m leaving now. My bus is here,” she said, a frown taking over her healthy, glowing face. It was too early. She couldn’t handle it. She had been saying goodbye all night. Her face, tan from the summer sun, was stained with tears. Her eyes were red and puffy. She was barely holding her tears in. 

He looked at her. His face was sad, but closer than it had been the whole trip. He pulled her into a hug that lasted an eternity. Their last hug. She took it all in. The oncoming headache that she always got from staying up all night. The sharp, yet comfortingly familiar scent of his soap. The soft cashmere of his sweater and the sun shining through the windows of the room. She blocked out the other kids, gathering their bags to get on the bus. Giving last minute phone numbers or halfheartedly promising to visit. Like when you fall and your life flashes before your eyes, the past month flashed before her. 

The beginning. Jet lagged and sweat pants clad. Excited high school students got off the crowded buses. People squealed with delight as they entered rooms. Roommates became best friends. There was no turning back now, not that anybody wanted to turn back. They were away from home. They were teenagers. It was summer. They were at the beach. Do the math and see what you get. Rules were stated just to be broken. Activities were announced, and the enthusiasm of the students grew. 

Into the summer they became more comfortable with each other. The girl had friends, and more than friends. They went to the beach. The sunny days stretched out in front of the girl like an endless road. Shopping trips and ice cream outings became regularities in their schedule. Live life and have fun. That’s what they lived by.

She met him. At a party none the less. She liked to be the life of the party and when her favorite song came on, she gathered the crowd to dance. And yes, he danced with her. That is how the story usually goes, right? Boy meets girl, they instantly mesh. Yeah, That’s how it goes. So they danced. And dancing became always hanging out. Being together was a regularity right along with the shopping and ice cream. If there was a party, they were there. That was how it went. Of course, he was a boy. Boys liked to do things other than dance.

He met another girl. It was no big deal. He had never done anything with her besides flirt and dance. The other girl wasn’t doing anything wrong. Nope, nothing at all. They did stuff, him and this other girl. She knew. They kissed in the hall before slipping off into his room or hers. Everyone knew. He didn’t really like the second girl. Nobody knew that but the girl, the first girl.

That’s how it was supposed to be. This other girl was persistent though. They were together a mere 7 hours before he had hugged the girl goodbye. It was random. She knew about the other girl. It didn’t matter. That’s how the story goes. Start at the end and explain how you got there. Their eyes met in the crowded room.

“I…I think I’m leaving now. My bus is here,” she had said. That’s how the story started, and this is how it ends. A hug. They both want to think it’s not over. They both want to hug each other again. Crazier things have happened. But for now this is all they have. A story.

I miss you, I still love you. I don’t want the story to end.