Chapter 14: Bittersweet Goodbye

I looked at my room. It was so empty, except for the brown boxes. I walked to the wall and took a picture frame from it. It was a photo of me and James. I put it into one of the boxes.

“You don’t have to take everything…” Mom said, as she took clothes from my cupboard and put them into another box.

“I’m not taking everything,” I said. “But I want photos to remind me of the people I love.”

Mom raised an eyebrow. “That’s a picture of you and James. He is going with you.”

I laughed. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m taking the other pictures as well.”

With that said, I took most of the pictures off my walls. I took pictures of James, my family, and my friends. I knew these pictures would make me feel close to them, even when I was miles away.

Mom looked at the box with tears in her eyes. Then she looked at the empty walls.

“Mom, I’m not leaving forever…” I told her. I took some books from the shelf and put them into a box.

“I know, I know,” she said and turned back to the closet.

It was once overflowing with clothes and mementos. But now it stood almost bare. Its shelves and hangers were stripped of my dresses and jackets. Only a few select pieces remained, left behind as tokens of the life I was leaving behind.

Mom grabbed some more clothes and stuffed them into the box.

“You just grew up so fast… that’s all,” she said. She wiped at her eyes.

I stepped forward and hugged her. My heart hurt when I thought of leaving behind the familiar comforts of home.

Would I be happy at MIT?

“Do you think I’ll be okay?” I asked.

Mom pulled away so that she could look into my eyes.

“Of course! You’ll thrive. I just know it.”

That made me smile.

Despite the tinge of melancholy that hung in the air, there was also a sense of excitement building within me. The idea of stepping into a new phase of my life, of embracing the challenges and opportunities that awaited me at MIT, filled me with a sense of eager anticipation.

Mom began closing the boxes and taping them shut.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment to savor the memories that this room held. From late-night study sessions to laughter-filled gatherings with James, it had been witness to the many moments of joy and growth that had defined my high school years.

I was ready for the next chapter in my life.

“Keily, sweetheart, have you remembered to pack your toothbrush?” Mom asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. “Yes, Mom, it’s in my toiletry bag.”

She scrutinized the room, her eyes scanning every corner as if searching for any forgotten item.

“What about your jackets? I packed some of them for you. It can get chilly at night. Did you pack enough warm clothes?”

“Yes, Mom, I’ve got my jackets packed,” I replied, suppressing a chuckle at her thoroughness.

“And don’t forget your charger,” she continued, her tone becoming increasingly earnest. “You’ll need to keep your phone charged in case of emergencies. You know that you can always call me, right?”

“Yes, I know. I’ve got it, Mom,” I assured her, reaching for my phone charger and holding it up for her to see.

She let out a sigh of relief, but her maternal instincts were far from satisfied.

“And remember to stay safe, Keily. Don’t wander off alone, and always keep an eye on your surroundings.”

“I will, Mom,” I said, grateful for her concern but also feeling a bit smothered.

“And don’t forget to text us once you’ve settled in,” she added, her voice softening with affection. “We’ll miss you, sweetheart.”

“I’ll miss you too,” I said.

I heard someone else walk toward my room. It was my dad, his eyes already brimming with emotion as he surveyed the boxes.

“Well, look at this,” he exclaimed, his voice thick with sentimentality. “My little girl, all grown up and ready to take on the world.”

I chuckled at his dramatic flair, but deep down, I appreciated his heartfelt sentiment. “Dad, it’s not like I’m leaving forever,” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

But saying that didn’t make my dad any less emotional. He stepped into the room, his gaze lingering on each corner as if trying to etch the memories into his mind.

“I remember when we first moved into this house,” he reminisced, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “You were so unsure about whether you’d be happy here.”

I rolled my eyes playfully.

“Dad, you’re going to make me cry,” I teased, though I could feel a lump forming in my throat.

He chuckled softly, his eyes misty with emotion.

“I’m just so proud of you, Keily,” he admitted. “You’ve grown into such an incredible young woman.”

He was proud of me. Mom was proud of me too. And I was also proud.

“Thanks, Dad,” I said. “I couldn’t have done it without you and Mom.”

He pulled me into a tight hug. For a moment, everything felt right. For a moment, we were just happy.

“Just remember, no matter where life takes you, you’ll always be my little girl,” he said, his words carrying a bittersweet resonance.

“I’ll remember, Dad,” I promised, unable to suppress the tears that welled in my eyes.

My parents helped me to move my boxes out of the house. Time moved so fast. It felt like just yesterday I was moving into this town.

Outside, James stood by the car. He was biting his lip, as if in deep thought. But when he saw me, he smiled.

“Hey, Keily,” he called out, taking the box from me. “Almost ready to hit the road?”

“I’m ready,” I said.

Then I looked at my parents. Their faces reflected both pride and sadness as they got ready to say goodbye. All of the boxes were loaded.

We had quite the drive to get to MIT.

But I was ready for the long road trip with James. He was always fun. We’d eat some snacks, listen to good music, and talk to each other.

James’s parents weren’t there to see him off—they had other things to attend to. But I knew they trusted the two of us to move in without a hitch.

Both of our parents think we made the right decision when it came to our living arrangements….

My parents stood in front of the car, their eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“We’ll miss you, sweetheart,” my mom whispered. She hugged me again.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I hugged her back, the reality of leaving home hit me all at once. “I’ll miss you too,” I managed to choke out.

My dad stepped forward.

“Take care of yourself out there, kiddo,” he said.

I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of saying bye.

“I will, Dad,” I promised, my voice wavering as I fought to hold back tears.

James stood beside me. His hand found mine, reminding me that we were a team and we were in this together.

“Take good care of her, James,” my dad said. He extended his hand.

“I will,” James said and shook it.

“Good luck, James,” my mom said as she wiped at her eyes.

“Thank you,” James responded.

With one last round of hugs and well wishes, James and I got into the car. As we settled into our seats, the reality of leaving home began to sink in. My heart ached as I left my parents behind.

James reached over and squeezed my hand, offering me a reassuring smile.

“It’s okay to be sad,” he said gently.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

James leaned in and gently brushed his lips against mine. It was a tender moment. I melted into the kiss. He made me feel warm and safe. He made me think that everything was going to be just fine. This sadness wouldn’t last long.

When the kiss ended, we smiled at each other.

And then we began driving.

“I’m happy that we found dorms so close to each other,” I said.

“Me too,” James exclaimed, taking a turn.

We were not moving in together.

We’d decided not to put that pressure on ourselves. We were going to the same school and would surely see each other a lot. There was no need to rush the living situation. I didn’t want to go through the tough times that James’s parents went through. And James didn’t want to go against his parents’ advice.

We were committed to each other and we were going to make things work between us. There really was no need to rush.

“We’ll only be a five-minute walk away from each other,” James reminded me.

College awaited!