The goodbyes that screamed hellos
Story given (by kpopfreak): A brilliant family trip and a sad goodbye
Story plot: She meets her cousin and other family members after years of neglecting this family bond, only to find more than she could ever imagine.
Author's note: I wanted to follow the list of who commented first, but then I saw your story and I felt like I should write something for you as soon as possible. I do not even know if you would really be okay with me writing about it, possibly ruining a moment that you hold dear, but after reading it multiple times (I really read it many times haha) I felt the need to tell you something. So, here you go. I myself have been seeing my family more than ever this summer because of birthdays and weddings, and all of a sudden family seems to be both something bad and brilliant. It can be bad,it can be brilliant. Nevertheless, nothing can compare to that happiness you get from being with them and enjoying the moment. I want you to know that goodbyes can mean hellos, if only you want them to be. Do not let go. I know you do not want to let go.

They say family bonds are special.

Yet, relationships would always blossom into a distant unfamiliarity when you only give it water without nutrition. All this time, she had been holding onto a memory colored with unhappiness, refusing to replace them with memories that might be better. She spent twelve years giving those relationships nothing but neglect.

So when the time came for her to finally see the product of her insincere care, it caused her unease. Those were the people she never looked back to for years of growing up. What they had become, how their personalities were now; she had absolutely no clue. Maybe that was frightened her the most. Maybe it was the fact that she would be facing people who she should be familiar with, but actually knew nothing of. It was the worst feeling of all to know that family members had been reduced to merely strangers. She would have felt better not meeting them at all.

By coincidence or fate, she got to speak to her cousin a few days before she would meet the rest of the family of her father’s side.

“You’ll be visiting us in a few days, right?” He had asked.

She had answered, “Y-Yes.”

“I’ll see you then, 妹妹!”

The worst feeling of all was hearing that cheerful voice calling out to you so affectionately, as if you had been there all this time and had created a flower worth admiring instead of a plant that was merely surviving.

She did not had the courage to speak when they all met a few days later, did not know how to respond to him. He had changed, they all had. They smiled, chattered happily, as if this was something beautiful, as if meeting up with people you did not saw for years was a gift from Heaven that should be enjoyed.

The thing though with family is that broken pieces could be mend so easily, holes could be filled so effortlessly, and soon it would be as though nothing had happened after all. It would be a pleasant lost you would get caught in, letting yourself being carried by the flow and enjoying the moment. Soon, she no longer felt any barrier, no longer felt the need to keep her distance because together they seemed to be able to create something beautiful. It was pretty, it was brilliant, and the little things that family members could do for each other would warm her heart.

It was that one cousin, though, that really made the difference for her on this trip. That one cousin that showed that time did not matter, years spent apart did not matter, because all that mattered was that family bonds could always be appreciated. It was never too late to love, never too late to care, never too late to believe that family can indeed bring something beautiful. Her cousin, who made time for them and continued smiling even though he was sick, who wanted this to last as long as possible and make it as memorable as possible. His laughter was pleasant and his optimistic personality was something that always succeeded in creating happiness. He showed her something she never thought existed. He was the brother figure she had always wished to have, but never thought would ever exist.

It was hard not to regret all the times spent avoiding people that could mean the world to her, not to feel guilty about how she could have acted so much more differently. She could not believe these people were the people she had not want to meet a few days ago, had not want to see after that trip years ago. On that moment, it was as if nothing ever happened and they were just one big happy family.

But goodbyes would come soon again, barging in confidently and crushing the blissful happiness. It was sad to know that she would have to leave, have to go back again. This time, she wished time could have gone slower, could have stopped on that moment so she could savor the happiness. She had to say goodbye to him again, and that must have hurt the most, because now she would have to part with someone who brought her so much. She never even had the time to really admire what they had and give him something to remember in return.

It was on that one day after she had returned home, that she broke down. It had been because of one online message written by her cousin that made her cry. He was not perfect, was not flawless, but he was somebody she had always wished to have in her life, and now they were distances away again and everything was back to how it was before the trip. Or was it?

妹妹, I do not know how many more years it will be until we will be able to see each other again. Your… Your哥哥 is not very good at expressing himself. You know… With this relationship I reluctantly had to say goodbye to, the thing I could not bear the most was to your back facing me when you walked away. It was a goodbye that was too sad… I just hope… You have something worth remembering from this trip.

They say family bonds are special.

There is something about these relationships that no friendship, no other relationship can bring. And it is never really too late, never really the end, because this magic that sparkled that moment will forever remain in your heart. The thing is, family members are the one who give the growing flower extra nutrition when you do not, so it will grow into something beautiful you will all be able to admire.

And a goodbye? It can mean a hello, if you want to.