You Say Goodbye...

10 months ago to the day (left on September 18, returning on July 18) I stood in front of Peter's building as I went off to do errands and he left for work.  We cried.  Then he walked away, and I turned around and cried some more, then sat on a bench and tried to will the crying away so I could carry on with my final day errands.

I just walked The Other Libby outside in a somewhat similar act of "goodbye avoidance".  I had to mail a letter and she is off to this big arts festival, Latitude.  We walked along, talking about the most mundane things as if nothing was happening.  I put my letter in the red pillar box, dropped off some clothes in a bin to donate, and then, we couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer.  I tried to hug her around her big camping backpack and tried not to cry.  But, as she walked away, I did.  I didn't look back because I couldn't.  I just refuse to believe that, after ten crazy months together, I won't be living with The Other Libby anymore.  She has done so much for me, from telling me where to drink too expensive cocktails to understanding when I'm moody, stressed, or crying.  She saw me through a couple of really rough patches this year, and helped me celebrate some exciting milestones.  She translated British English for me, and made fun of the way I said "basil", "tomato" and, well, almost everything.  Most of all, she helped me adjust here and feel connected to this city in a way that I probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for her.  That is an invaluable gift that I hope I have a chance to repay in New York one day.  From a misstep with another potential housemate and a random ad on Gumtree, I managed to find myself a life long friend.  For that, I consider myself very, very lucky. 

And, hopefully, this sentimental rambling will make her FINALLY read my blog!