Saying Goodbye

Eva

The sound of cardboard scraping against the floor filled my bedroom as I pushed another box toward the door. It wasn't just a box of things...it felt like a box of memories I wasn't ready to part with.

"Eva," my mom's voice called from downstairs, excitement and a tinge of impatience woven into her words. "Are you done yet? The movers will be here soon!"

I wanted to shout back, No, I'm not ready. I'll never be ready. But instead, I forced myself to reply, "Almost done!"

The lie sat heavy in my chest.

I turned back to my desk, where the picture frame sat like an anchor in a storm. It was my favorite photo of Jung Jinman and me. His arm was draped around my shoulder, his smile so wide it made his eyes crinkle. It was taken at last year's school carnival, just moments after he'd won me a giant teddy bear. The memory was so vivid it hurt.

My phone buzzed beside the photo, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Jung Jinman: Are you still packing?