Dropping you at the airport curb early this morning was stranger than I had imagined. For ten years you’ve been my boyfriend – turned husband – turned best friend. Although we’ve been separated for five years now, we’ve remained close, seeing each other nearly every week for dinner or concerts or to go riding. This spring we finally filed the paperwork and next week the letter will come in the mail telling me what I already know.

               I dread
               opening the envelope
               the finality

This last month has been surreal. I watched as you closed your construction business that you opened shortly after we met. I watched as you packed and shipped all of your earthly belongings including the Harley that we bought together and rode into the canyons all over the state. I watched as you sold the house that had been yours – then ours – then yours again. We built an incredible deck overlooking the lake there, spent many happy times there, and some mind-bogglingly painful ones as well. You continued renovating it top to bottom, creating an incredible, state-of-the-art home as an oasis for the next owner.

               not surprisingly
               it sold
               in only four days

With all your belongings packed and your house on the market you needed a place to stay. I’m delighted you chose here. These last 10 days have been an unexpected bonus, spending the days together helping you wrap everything up, spending the evenings cooking together and relaxing and having you sleep in my guest room each night. Waking to you here was a serendipitous joy.

               time to say
               everything
               on our hearts

As I said goodbye to you on the way to the airport, I was able to express my genuine excitement for your new adventure. Although I am sad at your leaving, I’m truly happy for you and curious to see where your journey will take you next. I expected to cry on the way home from dropping you off. In fact, I’d been dreading it. But instead, I could see the mountains the whole drive home and my heart was lighter, knowing this is the path you are meant to be on. And although it was goodbye for now, it was not goodbye forever. Our friendship will endure.

               change of address
               a forever stamp
               on my heart

 

Jennifer Gurney lives in Colorado where she teaches, paints, writes and hikes. Her poetry has appeared internationally in a wide variety of journals, two of her poems have won international contests and one was recently turned into a choral piece for a concert. Jennifer’s first book of poetry, My Eyes Adjusting, was recently published.