Preface

To feel the soft ocean breeze on face, to smell the sweet scent of the ocean, to hear the beautiful sound of the waves rolling in and out, to taste the bitter sweet salty spray on my tongue as I open my mouth to taste it, and to see the blue ocean stretch beyond the horizon and into the sky like there is no end, just one last. I can't believe I'd have to say goodbye.

Goodbye, a word commonly used when ending a conversation over the phone or like at the end of a school day, that kind of goodbye. Never would anyone think of goodbye as forever. Forever, a really long time, but how long is forever I asked myself every day. Every day a new adventure, but those adventures never lasted long.

"Are you ready?" she asked me.

"Yes, mom," I replied like I always did.

I looked at the ocean one last time, just to see my friend disappear into the waves. He had known this day would come, I had told him several times when he'd kiss my fingers. I owed him so much, he saved my life, let me call him friend, but I couldn't stay to repay my dept to him. He was special to me, he had loved me and understood me when no one else had, and for that I was grateful.

His eyes were drowned in an intense sadness as he knew I would never see him again. It hurt both of us that I was leaving, but I knew I had to. It was just so unfair, but life isn't fair, so I had to say goodbye to him and the ocean who had brought us together.

I turned around and headed for the van, my long hair blowing in the wind behind me. I wish I would be able to visit this place that brought me so much hope, but that was never going to be possible. All I could hope for was that the place I was going would be just as peaceful.

"Goodbye," I whispered and that was it, we left what hope I had behind at the shores of this vast ocean. I could here him crying as I got in the van, which made me start to cry, at least the next goodbye wouldn't be so hard.