Goodbye

All week I have been hearing it. All week I have been ignoring it. But now it is becoming a reality. I finally uttered that ugly word that has tormented my life so often...that hideous word of which I speak is goodbye.

I let myself believe that none of us were leaving. I let myself believe that I would have you all for at least a little longer. As I said goodbye I tried to make believe I would see you again soon. But as I hugged each of you I realized that I might never again hear your voices or see your smiles. All that I have left of you are memories. Once again my fairy tale is broken. Once again I am forced to awake and face reality. Once again I wear a mask of stone while tears flood my heart. Will that horrible word never cease to haunt me?