On parting.

and again.

the seemingly endless wide four-lane highway. the bare lands by the road. the big billboards with the trying-to-impress-you punchline and the over-sized stewardess with the million dollar smile to welcome/saybaibaito you. the newly painted yellow lines that lie across the road, reflecting the sunlight, more or less an annoyance. the hand - like a pre-programmed robot - that keeps reaching out from the box.

and again.

the random topics in the car. the occasional jokes followed by the laughs that evaporate into thin air within seconds. the songs -all songs, all genres, all artists- only sang melancholic tunes. the gray silence. the uneasiness that crept under the skin. the eye contacts, and then a forceful smile. the unheard sighs. the peaceful humming of the engine pushing all the way to a hundred. the woman's voice from the phone giving directions.

and again.

the blue chip from the automated machine. the lifts and the escalators where nothing is being said. the few counters with some/many people lining up. Ah and look there is our friend. the familiar face with a smile. the cheerful note in his voice. the dry laugh. the patting of shoulders. the exchanging of glances. the excitement and the blues dancing in the air. the sudden silence again. the occasional peek at the watch. Time's up and i have to go he says. the heavy footsteps headed for the counter. the tear glands all up and ready for work. the hugs - never too long but always tight. the pumping of blood into the eyes and the tears. and the tears. and the nose are all clogged up and no voice comes out from the throat. someone passes a tissue. but the one crying - either the mum or the son or both - never realizes who. and the dad. the dad is always silent. the dad is always cool. but the dad, the dad feels as heavyhearted as the mum and the dad never shows it. the dad says bai to the son, take care young man and walks away. everyone looks at their mutual friend and says the same thing. takecare, goodluck, seeyousoon, keepintouch. and he walks down the escalator. everyone starts to follow him from above and they keep waving. he waves back from below. he moves past a counter and he disappears from sight. everyone tries to keep in pace with him. and as they move on to the next spot where they can see him walk, they doesn't notice that the dad-the dad is always cool. the dad is always silent- was standing at a corner waving at the son. they pound on the glass for his attention. he looks up and wave. yes everyone, wave back and smile. and then he disappears again. everyone moves on. look he's there! and wave again. say bai even he cant hear it. and then he turns around and wave then disappears for the last time. everyone turns around and start walking back. silence pervades the air.

and again.

goodbye my friend. you've been the one. you've been the one for me.