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You rose with the sun on September 2nd- the cool morning light revealing shoveled paths and salted roads. Today was the day, there was no doubt about it.

Usually, at this hour, you would've rolled over and gone back to sleep. But something inside was tugging at you- urging you to get up and get out. So, you quietly got dressed- in several unflattering layers of wool- to fight against the crisp morning air. You weren't quite sure why, but you felt as if the day would crumble if you made too much noise. Perhaps because the world seemed so still and peaceful. Or maybe because if you made a sound, it meant that you were real. And you didn't want to believe that. You didn't want to believe that this was really happening to you. That something as good as your time with him had to end.

A hat, scarf, and a pair of boots later, you were walking through town. The only sound for miles was the crashing of waves on the misty shore. You and Steven had agreed on saving the last goodbye for later. First, he had to talk to the gems... And that could take all day. At least a 20 minute episode. Now, what you were going to do by yourself with all that time, you weren't sure.

You found yourself standing at the shoreline, watching the waves. Something about their temporariness stuck with you- how each wave rose, crested, and fell just the same. Everything has a beginning and end, really. But the water is still there. The ocean remains.

You laid down on the sand, the dunes cool to the touch, and stared up at the sky. Breathtaking hues of orange, purple, and pink stared back at you, along with a few stubborn stars that continued to twinkle beside the sun.

What felt like hours passed before you found the strength to get up. Time would continue to march on, whether you wanted it to or not. It didn't matter how long you stayed on that beach.

On the way back to town, you stopped at The Big Donut, because- of course. You got yourself a donut, even though you weren't hungry, and Steven a croissant. You knew he didn't like sugary breakfasts. "Best to start off with protein," he would say. Well, a croissant is good enough.

When Steven finally arrived at your place, with only 15 minutes to spare, you welcomed him inside.

"Do you want some coffee?" you asked him from the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Coffee would be great," he replied, sitting down on your couch. You caught him looking around the room, which made sense. In all the time you spent together, Steven had only been to your place one or two times. As you let the coffee drip into the pot, you stared at the refrigerator and remembered the time he came over to help with your hangover. Good times.

Your train of thought was interrupted by the beeping of the coffee machine.

"I love that sound," Steven chirped from the living room. You smiled while you filled two mugs.

"So," you hated small talk, but it seemed that there was nothing else to say. "Where are you most excited about going?" you asked, sitting down next to Steven.

"That's a tough one..." he thought for a moment, sipping his coffee slowly. "It's kind of basic, but I can't wait to see the west coast."

"Well, basic isn't bad," you shrugged. "Are you gonna learn to surf?"

Steven's eyes lit up. "Now that you've said that, definitely," he nodded.

"Radical," you grinned, doing your best surfer dude impression.

"Totally," Steven made the 'hang loose' sign with his hand and laughed with you.

You almost didn't hear his phone alarm. The two of you made eye contact, your stomachs sinking.

"Well, I guess it's time," Steven muttered. He stood up slowly, his mug still on the table.

"You can just take the mug," you said, standing up with him. You picked up the coffee and held it out to him. "You can think of me when you use it."

Steven shook his head, smiling sadly. "I don't need a mug to think of you."

"That may be true," you moved closer to him. "But I think you need this coffee for the road... and I don't have any to-go cups."

What would have been laughter on any other day was silence. You looked down at your hands and placed the mug into Steven's. He met your eyes and nodded slightly. This was it. You stood in your living room, with just one mug, and watched Steven turn to leave.

"Hey," you stopped him. "I never told you what that song was about."

Steven hesitated and turned to face you.

"Sometimes you have to move forward, and leave things behind. I get it. That's what it means to be human. But... just know that I'll always be here. Maybe not here here," you gestured slightly to the room around you. "But I'll always be here for you, Steven. No matter where we are. I love you."

"I love you too," Steven smiled tightly, afraid he might never leave if he moved any closer to you. "I didn't think that that could ever happen, but- you helped me... learn how to love."

You shared a moment of eye contact in comfortable silence. There were no more words to say. No more poetry to delay the inevitable. There was nothing anyone could say or do to keep this from happening. This was goodbye. No, this was a-

"See you later, Steven."

Steven hung his head and smiled. "See you later," he said finally, looking back at you. Without another word, he took his keys from his jacket pocket and spun them around his index finger by the carabiner. You never looked away as Steven walked out the door, and for the next ten months, out of your life.

At the sound of the car starting and wheels turning, you ran outside to send him off. You waved goodbye until your arm ached, standing in the open road as the Dondai disappeared over the horizon. And as Steven drove off, the lights of Beach City twinkling behind him, your new song played through the car speakers. He smiled through his tears and pressed on...

Because this would not be the last time you saw each other.

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