I dreaded the day I had to tell Scott I was moving out. After all we’d been through, he’d really turned out to be a great roommate.
Minus the super loud music in the middle of the night.
But we’d come to an understanding and found a comfortable way of living together. I’m using the term living here lightly. And he seemed to enjoy my company once in a while, so that was cool too.
But the school year was over and I had to move back home for the summer while I figured out what I wanted to do next. I was torn between finding a job in corporate America, or going to grad school. Neither choice filled me with joy.
But Scott brought it up first.
“So, I found your graduation invitations,” he said one day while I cooked myself dinner. “And I want to know why I haven’t received one.”
I rolled my eyes. “I haven’t mailed them yet, dummy. That’s why they’re still here.”
“So I am invited?” He clapped his hands. “Good. Now… what should I wear…”
Before he walked away, I grabbed his arm.
“Look…speaking of graduation. You know that means it’s the end of the school year, right?”
He raised a perfect eyebrow. “Mmhmm…”
“And at the end of the year… people go home.” Why was this so hard?
“Right…”
“So… I’m going to go home after school is over.”
“Uh-huh. What’s your point? Are we having a party?”
I stirred my spaghetti and fought back the well of tears that had sprung to my eyes. “I’m moving away, Scott. Back to where my family is. I won’t live here anymore.”
“Oh.”
I chanced a glance in his direction, but he’d turned away from me.
“I was going to tell you sooner… I just didn’t know what-“
“It’s fine.” He put a hand up. “I’ll start making other arrangements.”
He tried to walk away again, but I grabbed the back of his shirt. When he spun towards me, I saw actual tears in his eyes and my control collapsed. I pulled him into a hug. He fought me on it for a second, but then he relented and squeezed me back.
“I’m going to miss you,” I said through my tears.
“Of course you are,” he said and sniffed. “I’m an exceptional roommate.”
I giggled, and we broke apart.
“I’m still invited to graduation, right?” His giddiness was almost child like.
“Of course.”