The Weakest Link – Goodbye.
"Before you go, would you answer one question?"
"Of course."
The tear stains felt forever etched into my cheeks as I looked at him for what might be the last time. I was losing a part of me. Not only was he my best friend but he was my only real link back to Inkheart. He contained so many memories that led me back to Capricorn and the Shadow and every other beautifully portrayed characters. I'm not saying being locked in Capricorn's Village is my idea of fun, but it's not something I wanted to ever lose or forget about. And even though he wasn't part of Inkheart, he was there through it all and being able to remember that extraordinary experience through him is something I cherish, even after all these years. With him leaving, I knew I would miss everything. Everything about him, his tales of the thieves and his life before me and our time in the Village. Everything between Capricorn and now. It was all going to go and I was helpless.
"Were you ever happy living here with us for the past few years?" I knew I was being stupid. Of course I knew the answer, but this was all so sudden, anyone would have these doubts. His face just confirmed what I already knew. He looked shocked, and then hurt.
"Meggie..." He pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around my waist while I locked mine around his neck. Fresh tears came, dampening the neckline of his hoody. "Don't ever doubt that, Megs. Don't you ever! You hear me?" I nodded against his shoulder. "Listen, have you ever heard me tell you a story of the same place twice?" He let me go so he could look into my eyes. "Well have you?" I shook my head. He gave me a small, sad smile while bringing his hand against to my face and wiping the tears away with the pad of his thumb. "I have told you countless tales of my life before you. How I stole to live and the company I kept. I'm not proud of it but I did what I had to do to survive. I, among others, became known as an "urchin of the desert". From a young age I began stealing food from markets and money from local pockets. Unbeknown to me, I decide to steal from one of the Forty Thieves. The terror in his eyes when he caught me made think I would be killed." He paused to comfort me some more. "I'll never know what changed his mind but that's when I promptly became one of them. Being a thief, we could never stay in one place too long. This is one of the only few things I liked about being in their group."
"What else did you like? I can't imagine any sane person liking any part of being in their company." I scowled at him, wondering if it hadn't been for the Thieves, maybe he wouldn't be leaving. If they hadn't showed him a life of freedom and illegal activities, maybe he would never know what he was missing and wouldn't be compelled to try and find it on his own again.
"For once in my life, Meggie, I had a home. I had a place to sleep safely at night. I had a family. People I could turn to and rely on. It wasn't a stable home because of moving around but I didn't mind. I've always been a free spirit, dreaming of the world and new lands which I could find. I got to do that with them. They weren't the best company to keep but they did become my family. Meggie, I would have loved to of had different circumstances and not of had to result in stealing all the time but being with them fulfilled my dream in a small way. And now, being in your world, being in a completely new land, all I want to do is conquer it. I have loved every second of being with you and your family, but it's time for me to go. Thank you for reading me into your world Meggie. You saved my life and I will be eternally grateful. But I don't belong here. You live your life to the fullest, Meggie. Stop living off of my stories and write your own." He hugged me tightly again, kissing my forehead. Giving my hand a quick squeeze he released me. Scooping up his bag on the way, he left.
"Goodbye, Farid." I whispered.
That night I cried myself to sleep. I felt guilty, though, because I don't know how many of those tears were actually for him. They should have all been for him and not shared with Inkheart. This need inside of me to still be close to Inkheart in any way was strange. I couldn't for the life of me fathom why I felt like this. What Inkheart gave me was fear and devastation. It took away my mother but also brought her back to me and Mo. So why did I need it to still be a part of my life? And why was I racking my brain to think of a way it could be?