I will love you from afar

The Unspoken Farewell

Chapter 1: The Return

This year, I vowed to become the best version of myself. My name is Alexandra Lee, though most call me Alex. It’s funny how, in the process of moving forward, I find myself drawn back to the past, to memories I’ve tried to bury for a decade.

There’s this best friend I had when I was younger. We were inseparable, growing up in the same neighborhood, sharing secrets, and dreaming about the future. But life had other plans. My parents’ work forced us to move suddenly, and I left without saying goodbye. Just like that, I disappeared from her life, and she from mine.

Ten years have passed since that day. Ten long years without a word, without any sign of her. I can barely remember what she looks like now, but I’ve never forgotten the feeling of our bond. I still wear the friendship bracelet she gave me—the one with the half-moon symbol—as a reminder of what we once shared.

I wonder, does she hate me for leaving without a word? Does she ever think about me, the way I’ve thought about her all these years? It’s a question that haunts me, playing on a loop in my mind. How is she now? Is she doing well?

Sh**t, I mutter under my breath. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I let go? It’s been nearly a decade, yet I can’t shake these thoughts.

On the surface, I have everything I need. A successful career, financial stability—by all accounts, I should be happy. But there’s an emptiness inside, a void that nothing seems to fill. I’ve always known why. It’s because I’ve never been honest with myself about my feelings for her. Even as kids, I knew. I’m bisexual, and I was in love with my best friend.

I tried to move on. I’ve been in relationships with men, but they always ended badly—mentally abusive, manipulative situations that left me more damaged than before. After so much pain, I decided to be free, to stop looking for love where it doesn’t belong.

But now, I can’t ignore it anymore. I need to see her, to find out if there’s still something between us. We’re adults now, mature enough to face the past. I just want to know how she’s doing and maybe, finally, tell her how I feel.

With a sense of determination, I book a ticket to Thailand. I don’t have a plan, just a need to see her, to close this chapter of my life—or maybe, open a new one. In three days, I’ll be on a flight to the place I once called home.