“Hi.” She smiled.
“Hi”
“Hi”
The most awkward silence they ever had ensued. So she broke it with a hug. They held hands and sat down on the swing on her porch.
“You are leaving today?” She asked trying to make a start. Small talk had never been her forte. But since these were new beginnings, who knows maybe she’d like it.
“Yes. I am. Actually, in an hour. I need to see my room and enrol for classes. Which college did you chose finally?”
“Oh. Great. I am planning to travel before I settle on which college to take. Mostly I’ll take the art classes in town. As for now, too much of this swing and porch for me. Working hard this summer, saving up for an air ticket.”
“That’s great. Where do you want to go?”
“The east. Seen too much of the west on television.”
“So who are you going with? Someone new I don’t know about?” He grinned.
She looked at his eyes wondering how oblivious he was to what he was for her. Maybe having never said was the best thing. At least they could part as friends.
“Alone.” She whispered.
“What? Are you nuts? You have never been anywhere alone.”
“Exactly. I need to find someone new anyway. Now that you are leaving.” She finally confessed.
The kindness in his face turned to embarrassment.
“I will miss you.” He whispered and squeezed her hand tight.
“I will try not to miss you”
And as they sat amidst absolute quiet on that porch, the creak of the swing was all that could be heard. But there was also the sound of distance creeping between them.
And it was like the wail of a dying bird. A dying friendship.
“You are leaving today?” She asked trying to make a start. Small talk had never been her forte. But since these were new beginnings, who knows maybe she’d like it.
“Yes. I am. Actually, in an hour. I need to see my room and enrol for classes. Which college did you chose finally?”
“Oh. Great. I am planning to travel before I settle on which college to take. Mostly I’ll take the art classes in town. As for now, too much of this swing and porch for me. Working hard this summer, saving up for an air ticket.”
“That’s great. Where do you want to go?”
“The east. Seen too much of the west on television.”
“So who are you going with? Someone new I don’t know about?” He grinned.
She looked at his eyes wondering how oblivious he was to what he was for her. Maybe having never said was the best thing. At least they could part as friends.
“Alone.” She whispered.
“What? Are you nuts? You have never been anywhere alone.”
“Exactly. I need to find someone new anyway. Now that you are leaving.” She finally confessed.
The kindness in his face turned to embarrassment.
“I will miss you.” He whispered and squeezed her hand tight.
“I will try not to miss you”
And as they sat amidst absolute quiet on that porch, the creak of the swing was all that could be heard. But there was also the sound of distance creeping between them.
And it was like the wail of a dying bird. A dying friendship.
