A Parable of Seasons

Winter II

It was near the end of winter when January and February left. We still saw each other and spent time together as much as we possibly could before then, but everything felt different. Our conversations were still easy and free, but when they were over we realized we now had one less conversation to go before they left.

We still joked and laughed with each other, but once we calmed down the joy was replaced with dread of what was to come, and what would happen once they were gone.

It felt like years and mere moments all at once had passed when the day finally came. I returned to their house one last time to help pack and load the last of the boxes before January and February left for good.

That house; I had so many memories in it. Memories of three friends jacked up on caffeine at three in the morning having the most meaningful conversations about the most meaningless things. Conversations I most likely would never have again.

At least, those conversations would never be the same as they once had been. Time would never go back, it would only go forward, and time would only worsen the wounds I was left with.

We worked mostly in silence. Me and January and February packing boxes without a word, afraid to ruin these last few moments. The quiet was only broken when February put the last of the boxes in the back of his car, and finally turned to me to say something. January stood beside her.

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling, but it was January who spoke first.
"Were gonna miss you, kid." He said, his smile somehow forced and genuine at the same time.

"We will see each other again, and soon. Don't worry." February added, her voice as soothing and as supportive as it always was.

I couldn't say anything to them. I didn't want to. I just stepped towards them and wrapped them both in a hug, my arms just long enough to embrace them both.

I closed my eyes to hold back the tears. We had already cried enough.

I closed my eyes so I only felt January's arm, strong and protective, fold around me. I only felt February's arm, comforting and kind, fold around me as well. We stood in embrace for a long time. The fear of our last day gone, because that day had finally come. All that was left in the place of our dread was that feeling, that bond we thought we had lost months ago.

I felt like a year past, then another, then a third and we finally broke our embrace, and it wasn't enough. An unfit goodbye to such perfect friends. They got into the car, January in the driver's seat and February next to him. I heard the car shift into drive. I watched the tires crunch against the concrete driveway as January and February drove away from their house, and away from me.

I waved to them as they left, and they waved back. I watched the car move further and further away until disappearing over the horizon into the bleak winter air.