Time to Say Goodbye

At the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, the final show of the night is a water ballet to the opera song “Time to Say Goodbye”. In this song, two lovers sing to each other as they are about to part forever. I’ve always found the song beautiful, and it has gotten me into the habit of seeing goodbyes as some romantic thing. Violins in the background, people crying, a handsome boyfriend with flowers saying, “Please, come back to me!”

Reality is far different from a romantic opera. The Austin airport is crowded, even at 5 a.m. I’m stressed and tired from a night of no sleep and constantly misplacing items. Moments before, I had to run back to the car to get my wallet because I had forgotten it in the fiasco that was unloading the car; half of me thought that my wallet was an hour away at home. Thank God it wasn’t.

I struggle with my heavy luggage as my mom desperately snaps pictures while I check-in to the airline. I find myself getting increasingly frustrated not just from the constant barrage of flashes, but the rude attendants at the airline who refuse to help me when the machine did not dispense my boarding pass. When I am finally all checked in, I let out a huge sigh of relief. The easiest part is done.

As I sit down, my mom lets go another camera flash. I give her playful glare and ask why she is doing that, after all, it isn’t my first time going to Korea. She stifles a sob and hugs me. I turn to my father who as always been a stoic man, and ever stoic does he remain in this situation.

The three of us sit there for a while, letting the beads of sweat dry from our foreheads and savor every moment we are having together. When 6 a.m. rings across the screen, we stand, knowing that it is time to say goodbye.

I give my mother a hug, who had been strong until this point, but is now sobbing on my shoulder as she squeezes me tightly. I hug her in return, her tears making me cry as well. I manage to untangle myself from my mother to hug my father who I can see is trying to be strong, but his façade is somewhat faltering. I hug him hard and stifle a sob.

With hugs over, I walk towards the security line and begin the arduous process of dealing with TSA. Occasionally, I look back and see my mom and my dad smiling and waving. As I take my final steps to where they will no longer be in my sight, I hum my song. Time to Say Goodbye.

We may be parting now, but soon, we will be together again.