A Quiet Goodbye

Last week was my last day at Oakwood Elementary after fifteen years. I couldn't bring myself to tell many of the kids until it was almost too late. During lunch, one little girl handed me a drawing with her name scribbled across it and said she'd miss me. She hugged me tight and I felt tears well up in my eyes. That's when I knew I wouldn't be able to hide it much longer. As the final bell rang, I gathered my things quietly and watched them all run out into their summer freedom without me.