History of Sorts

“Goodbye” is such a strange word. It carries both positive and negative connotations in equal measure.
Positive, because it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.
Negative, because sometimes it is final, with no possibility of turning back.
Over the years, I have felt immense guilt and pain for not having the chance to say goodbye to a friend or family member before they left this world. Because of this, my grief was often unbearable. However, I came to realize that very few people ever get the opportunity to say a proper farewell.
I was watching an episode of Code Black last night, and one line struck a chord with me: “You can’t bypass grief; you have to go through it.”
This is so true. If you try to avoid grief, at some point, you will be catapulted back to where you started, only this time, it will be harder to manage.
If you don’t get the chance to say goodbye to a loved one, don’t dwell on it. Next time, just say hello to them when you see them in your dreams or in your memories.
Goodbyes often come with pain. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain,” and if I may add, “No pain, no proof of love.” It is love that inflicts this pain, but paradoxically, it is a good kind of pain.
These words are for all those to whom I never had the chance to say goodbye to. I haven’t forgotten you, and I never will.