Thoughts on Leaving Charleston: Goodbyes

The goodbyes of my freshman year lasted for an eternity.  I feel like the goodbyes began a month ago when everyone began to see the light at the end of this semester's tunnel.  It began with the last BCM, my last day at the Children's Museum. my last ESL class, my last time doing discipleship with Katie (we ate at Poe's and talked...it was a good last).  I know that I'll return in the fall to do it all over again, but it still felt like too much closure all at once.

And then it came time to say goodbye to the people in my life. Some of them I knew I'd see this summer. Some I knew would be mostly absent from my life for the entire summer.  And some I knew would not be returning in the fall.  I hate goodbyes.  If we're being completely honest, though, few people genuinely like goodbyes, right?  I avoided them as much as possible during my last week, carefully selecting the phrases "I'll see you later" and "I'll talk to you soon" instead of submitting to the goodbye.

An incredible last day in Charleston surpassed my expectations: Star Wars marathons, sushi, sitting in my car just talking with my roommate for hours in the dark.  But the next morning, when my roommate and I stood outside our dorm room which had been completely emptied of our stuff but not our memories, the goodbyes hit hard.  I just stood there, clutching my fish bowl and a broom as she pulled the door of Buist 404 closed for the final time.  I drove out of Charleston blasting the Passion Awakening CD.  It was unbelievably dusty in my car and I involuntarily teared up a little. (That's a lie.  I cried like a baby through the first six songs on the CD and then sniffled the rest of the way home.)

Freshman year was over.

I happily said goodbye forever to chemistry, math, the semi-warm showers of Buist....

The rest of my goodbyes, though, were a little more bittersweet.  I don't know what next year will hold.  But I've officially given in to the goodbyes of freshman year.