"You'll come home soon?" I ask, and he responds with a smile, reassuring me. I then ask, "Promise you won't forget me while I'm gone?" and he smiles again, promising not to. As I walk away, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the thought that I won't be able to stop thinking about him.
The moment captures the mixture of reassurance and anxiety that accompanies goodbyes. Despite the promises and smiles, there's an underlying uncertainty about how difficult it will be to be apart and how strongly thoughts of him will stay with me during the separation.