Some people hate to say goodbye. Some refuse to say goodbye. They would rather walk away and leave everything behind, thinking that if they didn't say that single word the people or the life they have to say farewell to will be put on pause. Nothing will change. At least in their eyes. But for me goodbyes  we're essential. I needed to see the ones I held dearly to me one last time before I turned my cheek. After penny passed away, after the funeral, after my father, my mother, my life. I've held an enormous amount of regret on my chest. The words goodbye were inked onto my virginal skin. The one word I didn't get to say to them. Standing in the kitchen watching aunt May make omelets for the both of us I know I don't want to make the same mistake. I need to say goodbye to her. She's humming to an old classic -a song I'm sure I've never heard of- with a smile on her face. I place my forearms on the kitchen island and can't help but smile at her. Today was my last day in this kitchen, watching her singing, making breakfast that would never compare to anyone else's. Not because she had culinary skills of a professional chef but because she was aunt May. "What are you thinking about?" She asks, snapping me out of my sad thoughts. I smile at her not wanting her to dwell on our parting. "I was just thinking about dying my hair pink" I lie, I would never dye my hair pink. Not because I don't think dying my hair wouldnt be fun but because I know I could never pull it off. That was Tianas thing. Aunt Mays face turns into a scowl, "now listen here young lady your hair color really compliments your eyes and I don't want to see you in pink hair." I giggle and nod. "Don't worry you've convinced me, I should dye it green." She huffs and I walk over to her hugging her small frame from behind. I wasn't tall but compared to aunt Mays small size I was taller than her. I lay my cheek on the back of her head and sway side to side as she continued to hum. My eyes flutter shut so the tears I've been saving for later tonight won't fall. Even though they are begging to be free. "I love you aunt May." She stops humming and even though I can't see her face I can feel the sad smile she's wearing. "I love you too Aurora." The rest of my day consists of me spending every second with aunt May. We have breakfast with one another, we lounge around the house chatting about random things like painting the house, starting a club and getting her on a dating website. She laughed and refused quickly saying she's too old to which I scowled at. Despite Aunt May being 44 - which wasn't old in my eyes- she looked great. Her blond hair laid above her shoulders ,her bangs shedding off a year or two, curtaining the wrinkles near her eyes. Her body was fit from all the morning walking she does. She didn't even act like a forty four year old woman she could easily trick a thirty eight year old man that she was his age. However not wanting to argue with her about how she needs someone with her while I'm gone, I change the subject and she decides we should take a walk around the neighborhood. Walking around what was my home for years my arms wrapped around aunt Mays I smile. I look up at the limpid summer sky asking to anyone who was listening to savor this moment. To keep a smile on aunt Mays face, to keep her in my life, to keep my world from shaking again. I dont know if my heart could take another blow and I didn't want to find out. So I was asking whomever was up there listening to wrap up my life, the people I love, in a stone like box, surrounded by an unbreakable wall. To keep what is now, my forever.

We finished our walk ,we ate lunch, we watched her favorite cooking show and then we were at the airport. I haven't cried yet. Brandon and Tiana are here as well, they are standing behind aunt May as she says her final words to me before I get on that plane. She's sobbing but for some reason I haven't felt the urge to cry and I'm worrying I look insensitive in front of her. "Now you call me as soon as you get there, you shouldn't have any trouble getting back home I know you know the way and if you can't bare to be there you call me and I will fix it." I nod and she looks into my eyes with her tear filled ones. She puts her hand on my hair and pats it gently gliding her fingers through my long locks. She pulls me into her arms and kisses me on my head. Her eyes close as she whispers I love you and be safe in my ear. I assure her I will and she moves aside for Tiana who practically jumps on me. "Don't go you cow." She yells as her tears soak my T-shirt. Although the moment is very sad and I should be bawling my eyes out like them I can't help but laugh a little at her words. I pat her back and stroke her purple curls out of my face. "I'll be back before you know it to visit you all and you can come anytime you want." She sobs even harder and it breaks my heart when I see aunt May join her. "You better not forget me okay, no one better replace me or I will kill you. I will hunt you down and I will kill you do you understand me Aurora." She pulls from me, her bloodshot eyes boring into mine. How could I forget someone like her? How could I possibly forget all the laughs and tears we shared. We have so many memories each one wrenched within me for life. "We will text each other everyday even if it's at least once." I stick out my pinky promising her. She intertwines hers with mine before rushing over to my aunt May who pulls her into a hug hushing her. I smile at the sight despite aunt May pretending to forget Tianas name countless times and her constant comments about her or her clothes or just her in general she loved her. And it warmed my heart seeing my two favorite people in one another's arms even if they were in tears. When it's Brandon's turn to come up to me my heart aches. My mind wanders back to the time when we first met.

I had just moved in with aunt May and although I was thankful for the change of atmosphere but my mind refused to settle in. I was sitting in the cramped buss staring down at the scars I had from my beatings in school. I sigh at how tarnished and ugly my pale skin looks. My head snaps up when a dirty blond headed boy sits next to me without asking. I look around to see all the seats taken, making mine the only open spot. That makes so much more sense I tell myself mentally. he didn't sit here because he wanted to it was because he had no other choice. When I look at the boy again he isn't staring at me but at my bruised arms. I feel the heat rush to my cheeks and quickly try to pull down my sleeves in embarrassment. He snatches my hand before I can do so. Out of fear I slap his hands away and glare, afraid of what he will do. "You can tell someone you know." I looked at him confused. Not wanting to answer I pull down my sleeve and get off the buss noticing it was my stop. Perfect timing. When I'm off I notice him get off with  me.  Scared ,I start walking away and he follows behind me. Angry I turn around to yell at him while trying to hide my fear. "What's your problem!" He glares and forcefully grabs my hand. "You are my problem ! We need to tell the police they can help you. Your parents won't hurt you anymore.." I snatch my hand away from him finally understanding why he was acting weird. He didn't want to hurt me, he was trying to help me. My heart breaks, wishing there was someone like him when I actually needed the help. I rub my bruised and cut arms my mind taking me back to a time when the pain was inflicted. I wince. Sighing I look down at my shoes my hair hiding my features. "My parents didn't do this." He looks at me pitifully. With three large steps he's in front of me again, this time gripping my shoulders. "You don't have to be scared. It's okay to tell someone, the won't be able to hurt.." I look up angrily at him for what he's accusing my parents for. Not once did they ever lay a finger on me, I couldn't even remember if they had ever yelled at me. I knew it wasn't his fault, he didn't know but Hating the way he was verbally abusing my parents I yell, "my parents are dead!" His mouth falls a tad his lips parting. I don't know how but I end up crying even though it's been so long. But my wound still felt so fresh. That's when the boy whose name I failed to learn wraps his arms around me letting me soak his shirt with my tears. The rest was history, I learned his name and he became my best friend.

"Brandon." I look up at him. He wasn't crying but I could tell he was on the verge of doing so. He quickly scoops me into his arms holding me against his chest the same way I did to our photo a day ago. When I look up I feel something warm fall on to my cheek, but he quickly pushes my head back down so I won't have to see. "Your actually leaving." I nod not wanting to speak or look up. I know he wouldn't want me to at the moment. "Please don't go" he whispers. I sigh and close my eyes. "Please Aurora. Please stay, I swear I'll make you happy." I suck in a breath and push at his chest so I can finally look at him. When I do my heart yells at me for making such a kind man cry. "I can't" i shake my head and really look at him. "This pain is temporary, I promise." I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. "I need you to be happy for the both of us." I release him and take a step back. I hold my bag close to my side and turn around ready to walk away from everything I've come to know, that's has become my life. Did I really want run away from what I have right now for the past I tried so hard to run away from. If I step on that plane I could possibly be unlocking memories I didn't want to release. I'm about to turn around and run into their arms and never leave but I remind my self that it doesn't mean I'd have to face anything. I could just start anew there, a fresh start. Once I've convinced myself I start walking towards the door but I stop. Turning around I see all three of them still frozen in the spot I left them watching me. Finally the tears that wouldn't fall crawl out from my sockets and free fall from my eyes. "Goodbye" I whisper for only myself to hear.