Until Next Time

Saying goodbye is the hardest part. No matter how much I prepare for them, they always take me by surprise.

These last days will stay with me forever. Today was one of the best and the worst days of my life. The morning was a blast. We made bracelets, colored, and played. The kids did a performance for us and I have to say that they are fantastic dancers. After the dancing, things got very emotional.

There are no words to describe the way I felt when I was hugging everyone goodbye one last time. The tears overpowered me and wouldn't stop until there was none left. It is unbearably hard to think that there could possible be no tomorrow with the kids, there may not be a next time. It is hard enough to say goodbye to someone you could never see again, but it feels like your heart is being shattered when you have to say a final goodbye. I kept telling myself that I'll come back and see them again, but my doubts shadow that little shred of hope. I truly love them with all of my heart. They are my family and I will love them forever.

I read the letters they gave me over and over, it felt like me eyes kept gravitating towards their words. I can't believe that we have only known them for two short weeks. It amazes me that you can give and receive so much love in such a short period of time. When I hugged them goodbye one last time, it was incredibly hard to let go. I wanted to pull them closer, hug them tighter, and never ever let them go.

When Lavin saw me crying in the tuk tuk, saying my last goodbyes, he came over and told me to smile because that's how he wanted to remember me. Him saying that made me cry harder, but smile too. Watching them chase after the tuk tuk as we drove away was heart breaking. I have never said I love you so many times in one day.

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”