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The Weight of Goodbye
On relationships that slip away
There’s something deeply human about trying to hold on to people we care about.
We invest ourselves in others — time, emotions, memories — creating bonds that become part of our identity. Yet, despite our efforts, some relationships fade, leaving us with questions that linger long after the connection has dimmed.
The Haunting Echo of Final Words
Years ago, I made a decision that would reshape my life entirely: leaving my graduate program in New York City to return to my parents’ home in Tokyo. It took just twelve days to upend a life I had spent two and a half years building — securing a visa, buying a plane ticket, packing up my apartment, and saying goodbye to a social circle I knew I wouldn’t easily replace.
Among the people who helped me through this transition was someone I’ll call Beanie. We had met through blogging circles, forming one of those unexpected online connections that sometimes feels more authentic than relationships cultivated face-to-face. He wrote unconventional poetry that resonated with me so deeply that I printed one of his poems and tucked it in my wallet, where it remains to this day.
While others questioned my impulsive decision, Beanie encouraged me to embrace the opportunity to…
