Time to say goodbye

We have gathered at the village entrance. There are a couple wagons there, all of them packed full. Amelia and her parents are at one wagon. I have no idea where Fabe and Cal are and I honestly don’t care. Mia, her parents, myself and my mom are at another one. Mia had felt it wise to travel in a wagon other than Amelia. No need to invite unnecessary conflict.

Mia first says goodbye to both her parents and her grandmother. Then she says a goodbye to my mother and thanks her for the training she received in the last week. Finally, Mia comes to me. I thought we would have a normal goodbye. But Mia thought differently. She grabs me in front of all our parents and gives me a passionate kiss on the lips. At first, I was a bit embarrassed. Especially when I saw Mia’s dad frown at me. But both our moms were smiling. I figured I might as well make Mia happy one last time for the next 6 months and returned the kiss.

“Half a year.” Mia says when we end the kiss. “I’m going to miss you.”

“We’ll miss each other.” I reply.

“I’ll write you as soon as I found a guild.” Mia tells me with a smile. “Then you’ll know where to send your letters to.”

“Stay safe out there, alright.”

“Will do.”

After that Mia entered the wagon and it left.

There she goes. Off to the big city. Off to become an adventurer. Off to a life of excitement. Off to see her sister again.

Our parents don’t stay for long. They seemed to have been ready to let her go. As for me, I stay a while longer.

The wagon Mia is on takes the lead. Another comes up behind it and obscures its view. I felt like that was the time for me to go as well. But then, at the end of the other wagon, I see Amelia staring at me.

My best friend for most of my life. One of the first people who started adventuring with me. She too is leaving now. The first time she and I will be so far away from each other. I kept on staring at her and she kept staring at me, until eventually she was out of sight.

…

I never said goodbye to her.