The Best Goodbye I Never Said

The Best Goodbye I Never Said

The last time I saw my father, we didn’t speak.

Not because we were angry.

Not because we had nothing to say.

But because I thought there would be more time.

He was sitting on the front porch, in that old wooden chair he always used. The one that creaked every time he rocked back and forth.

I walked past him with my bag in hand, rushing to catch a train.

He looked at me, gave a small wave, and smiled.

I nodded back.

That was it.

No hug.

No “I love you.”

No goodbye.

I thought I’d be back next weekend. I thought I’d hear his voice again.

But life, as I’ve learned since, doesn’t care about our plans.

Three days later, he was gone.

I stood at the funeral, listening to people talk about him.

They said he was kind.

Hardworking.

Quiet, but wise.

All true.

But I kept thinking about that last moment.

How I had rushed by.

How I didn’t stop.

Grief is strange.

It’s not just sadness — it’s questions that can never be answered.

Did he know how much I looked up to him?

Did he feel proud of me?

Did he wait for me to turn around?

I’ll never know.

The Lesson I Carry

Since that day, I’ve learned something simple — but powerful:

Never leave without saying what matters.

Say "I love you" when you feel it.

Say "thank you" when you mean it.

Say "I’m sorry" when you should.

Because we don’t always get another chance.

Life moves fast.

We rush from one place to the next, thinking there will always be more time, more weekends, more chances.

What I Wish I Said

If I could go back to that moment on the porch, I wouldn’t run to catch the train.

I’d sit next to him.

I’d tell him that his quiet strength taught me how to be calm when life gets loud.

That his patience gave me hope when I was ready to give up.

That his silence often spoke louder than words.

And I’d say goodbye — the right way.

With love.

With honesty.

With peace.

But sometimes… there aren’t.

I never said it then.

So I’ll say it now, for anyone who still has time:

Don’t wait.

Tell the people you love what they mean to you.

Before your chance becomes a memory.

A Final Thought

The best goodbye isn’t dramatic.

It’s just real.

And sometimes, the best goodbye… is simply not left unsaid.