Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 44: Goodbyes

The school compound felt strangely empty after Moyo left.

Maybe it was because the exams were over.

Maybe it was because everyone was already thinking about Christmas, and the usually noisy corridors had become unusually quiet.

Or maybe I had simply become too aware of the fact that things were changing.

For months, Longford High had been my entire world.

Every argument, every secret, every friendship, every heartbreak, every lesson-it had all happened here.

And now, suddenly, I was leaving.

I stood outside the hostel with my bag beside me, watching a few students drag their boxes towards the school gate.

Home.

The word should have excited me.

And it did.

But it also frightened me.

Home meant my mother.

It meant Dara.

It meant Christmas.

And, unfortunately, it meant my father.

The housemistress had called earlier to inform me that my parents were coming to pick Dara and me up a day before the other students left.

Apparently, there was a reason for it.

I didn't know what it was.

Christmas carol was tomorrow, and I was disappointed that I wouldn't be around for it. I had actually been looking forward to seeing the whole school dressed up, singing Christmas songs, and probably watching Michael embarrass himself during one of the performances.

I smiled at the thought.

Michael.

That was exactly who I needed to see.

Before I left, there were things I needed to say.

I picked up my bag and headed towards the football field.

I found him exactly where I expected.

Sitting quietly beneath one of the trees, reading.

Of course.

I walked towards him.

"Hi."

He looked up.

"Hi."

There was an awkward silence.

I shifted my weight from one foot to another.

"I came to say goodbye."

He closed his book.

"You're leaving today?"

"Yeah."

He nodded slowly.

"I'll miss you."

My heart skipped.

I guess he wasn't mad at me anymore.

"Michael."

"Hmm?"

"I need to tell you something."

He looked at me carefully.

"Okay."

I sat beside him.

"The other day, when you told me how you felt..."

He smiled faintly.