The moment the door closed behind him, silence filled the room like a heavy fog. Jobi stood frozen, clutching the small backpack his father had packed for him the night before. It didnât feel real. Nothing about today felt real. People always say goodbyes hurt, but Jobi never understood how deeply until nowâuntil the day he had to say goodbye to his dad and start a new life with Chau.
His father had knelt in front of him that morning, trying to smile even though his eyes were red and glassy. âYouâre going to be okay, buddy,â he whispered, brushing Jobiâs hair back gently. âChau will take good care of you. And Iâll always be here for you, even if Iâm far away.â But Jobi could hear the tremble in his voice, the heartbreak he was trying so hard to hide.
âDonât watch,â Jobi had said, turning away, trying to be strong. He didnât want his father to see him cry. But the tears came anywayâhot, unstoppable, heavy enough to choke his voice. Saying goodbye felt like losing a piece of himself, a piece he didnât know how to live without.
Chau tried to comfort him during the long drive, speaking softly, giving him space when he needed it. She understood that today wasnât about settling in or starting fresh; it was about letting go of something precious. Every familiar street they passed felt like another thread being cut, pulling him farther from his father and the life he knew.
When they arrived at Chauâs home, everything felt too quiet, too different. His fatherâs laughter wasnât echoing through the hallway. His favorite mug wasnât sitting on the counter. Even the air felt strange, like a place that didnât yet know his name.
Jobi curled up on the couch, hugging his backpack, wishing he could rewind time. He wasnât angryâjust sad, confused, and scared of what tomorrow might look like without his dad beside him. But somewhere deep inside, he also held onto the promise his father made: that love doesnât disappear just because distance grows.
As night settled in, Jobi wiped his tears and whispered into the quiet, âGoodbye, Dad⌠I miss you already.â
And though no one answered, he felt, somehow, that his father heard him.