I can't believe this... I actually have to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to my family, my friends, and the life I've known up until now. What would they say? How would they react? My mind swirled with thoughts and expectations, maybe even a bit of dread. Am I exaggerating? Perhaps. But deep down, I know I'm not ready. I'm not ready to say goodbye.
The weight of it all suddenly hit me, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face, uncontrollable and relentless.
"The memories..." I whispered to myself, looking up at the sky with a bittersweet smile, though the tears still flowed. I tried to pull myself together and headed back to Sora.
"Dude, stop crying and being so dramatic," Sora said with a smirk. "You're not saying goodbye forever."
With a nod, I wiped my tears away, and we started swinging on the vines in the forest, just like we used to. It was our last time before we'd leave this place for good. The nostalgia hit hard as I saw our house nestled among the trees. I knocked on the door, and it creaked open. Inside, my uncle was waiting for me at the table, a small box in front of him.
"Open it," he said with a gentle smile.
I did as he asked, and inside, I found a necklace with a phoenix pendant. It was beautifully crafted, fiery and fierce. My uncle handed Sora a matching one.
"Be safe, you two," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Sorry your parents aren't here to wish you luck. Goodbye."
I placed a bag with 3,000 gold coins on the table, trying to hold back my emotions. "Thank you, Uncle. I'll miss you."
With that, Sora and I left the house, knowing it would be the last time we'd see it. As we walked away, memories of everything we'd been through—good and bad—flashed before my eyes. When we reached the edge of the forest, we turned around one last time and waved.
"We'll never forget you," I whispered.
And with that, we stepped forward, leaving the past behind. This was the start of a new chapter in our lives.