The Final Goodbye

The final days of summer felt like they were slipping away too quickly for Mike. Every day brought him closer to leaving for college, and while he was excited about starting his new life at State University, he couldn't help but feel the growing weight of what he was leaving behind—especially Emi.

They had spent the whole summer trying to make the most of their time together, going on late-night walks, watching movies, and talking for hours about their plans for the future. But now, the reality of their separation was starting to hit harder than ever. Mike had known this moment would come, but no matter how much he tried to prepare for it, the thought of saying goodbye to Emi for real felt like a knot tightening in his chest.

It was Friday evening, and the air was thick with the warmth of the summer night. Mike and Emi sat together on the porch at Emi's house, a place that had become their quiet retreat over the years. The sun had already set, and the stars were beginning to appear in the sky, but for once, the peacefulness of the night didn't soothe Mike's anxiety.

Tomorrow, he would be leaving for college.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow," Emi said softly, her voice barely audible in the quiet night.

Mike glanced at her, seeing the emotion in her eyes. She was trying to stay calm, but he could see how much this was affecting her. It was affecting him too. More than he had realized.

"I know," Mike replied, his voice strained. "I've been trying not to think about it, but... it's hard. It's really hard."

Emi sighed, pulling her knees to her chest as she stared out into the night. "I knew this day was coming, but I still feel like I'm not ready. I thought we had more time."

Mike felt his heart tighten at her words. He had thought the same thing. All summer, they had focused on staying positive, on enjoying their moments together without letting the future hang over their heads. But now, as they sat on the edge of that future, the reality of what they were about to face felt overwhelming.

"I'm not ready either," Mike admitted, his voice soft. "But we don't have a choice, do we? College is starting, and... we have to move forward."

Emi nodded, but the sadness in her eyes didn't fade. "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."

For a moment, they sat in silence, both of them grappling with the weight of what was happening. The thought of not seeing Emi every day, of not walking her to school or spending afternoons in the park, felt like a hole opening up inside Mike. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to move forward without her by his side.

Finally, Emi turned to face him, her expression serious but filled with a quiet kind of determination. "Mike, I know things are going to be different from now on, but I need to know that we're going to be okay. I need to know that... we'll make it through this."

Mike swallowed hard, feeling the emotion rise in his throat. He had been thinking the same thing—wondering how they would survive the distance, the new challenges, and the inevitable changes that college would bring. But looking at Emi now, he knew that he didn't want to lose what they had. He didn't want to lose her.

"We will," Mike said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I promise, Emi. We'll figure it out, no matter what. We'll call, we'll visit each other whenever we can... we won't let the distance get between us."

Emi looked at him, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. "But what if it does? What if things get hard and we... drift apart?"

Mike shook his head, reaching out to take her hand. "We won't. We've made it through so much already, Emi. We can make it through this too. We just have to be honest with each other. If things get hard, we'll talk about it. If we're struggling, we won't hide it. We'll be there for each other, even if we're not in the same place."

Emi squeezed his hand, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You really believe that?"

"I do," Mike said firmly. "I believe in us."

For a moment, they sat there, the weight of their conversation hanging between them. Mike could feel the emotion building inside him—the fear, the uncertainty, but also the overwhelming love he had for Emi. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew they couldn't avoid this. It was part of growing up, part of moving forward, even if it was painful.

"I'm going to miss you so much," Emi whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Mike felt a lump form in his throat, and before he could stop himself, he pulled her into his arms. Emi wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his chest, and for a long time, they just held each other in the darkness. Mike could feel the tremble in her body, the quiet sobs she was holding back, and it broke his heart.

"I'm going to miss you too," Mike said, his voice thick with emotion. "Every day."

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, clinging to each other as if they could somehow stop the inevitable from happening. Mike pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair, trying to memorize every detail of this moment. He didn't want to let go. He didn't want to say goodbye.

Finally, Emi pulled back slightly, her eyes red but her expression determined. "You'll call me, right? As soon as you get there?"

Mike nodded, his heart aching. "Of course. I'll call you as soon as I unpack."

Emi smiled through her tears, reaching up to gently brush a tear from Mike's cheek. "I love you, Mike."

The words hit Mike like a wave, crashing over him with an intensity he hadn't expected. He had always known how much he cared for Emi, but hearing her say those words now, in this moment, made everything feel more real.

"I love you too, Emi," Mike whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "I always will."

Without hesitation, Mike leaned in and kissed her, a deep, heartfelt kiss that felt like both a promise and a goodbye. It wasn't rushed or filled with uncertainty—it was steady, full of all the love and trust they had built over the years. When they finally pulled apart, Emi rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling in the quiet night air.

"We'll be okay," Emi said softly, her voice filled with quiet determination. "We will."

Mike nodded, feeling a sense of calm settle over him. "We will."

The next morning came too quickly for Mike's liking. His bags were packed, his car loaded, and his parents were waiting for him to head off to State University. It all felt so sudden, like the summer had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

But before he left, he made one last stop.

Mike pulled up in front of Emi's house, his heart racing as he climbed out of the car and walked up to the porch. Emi was already waiting for him, standing there in the early morning light, her eyes filled with emotion.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hey," Mike replied, his heart heavy.

For a moment, they just stood there, neither of them knowing what to say. It felt like there were too many words, too many emotions, and not enough time to express them all.

Finally, Emi stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too," Mike said, holding her tightly. "But this isn't goodbye. Not really."

Emi nodded, pulling back just enough to look up at him. "Promise me we'll be okay."

"I promise," Mike said, his voice filled with certainty.

With one last kiss, Mike reluctantly let her go and climbed back into his car. As he drove away, the image of Emi standing on her porch, watching him go, stayed with him. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done, but as he drove toward his new life at college, he held onto the promise they had made to each other.

They would be okay.

They had to be.