“One Call, Many Goodbyes”

A Journey Through School, College, Work, and the People Who Stayed.

It started with a call one day.
A voice from work, not far away.
“Just checking in,” they gently said.
Suddenly, the past opened up.

I smiled.
I'm married now, and life has moved on.
But some old bonds never fade.
That one small talk, so brief and kind,
Unlocked a world I had left behind.

School friends�"those innocent years,
Of stolen pens and secret tears.
We grew up slowly, with scraped-up knees,
And found joy in simple things.

They knew the child I used to be,
The laugh I had, completely carefree.
Though distance came and life expanded,
A part of me remained with them.

Then college came, a brand new group,
The messy, wild, all-nighter bunch.
We weren’t the same, but oh, the spark!
The dreams we chased in the dancing dark.

They saw me fall and helped me rise.
They questioned truths and broke lies.
The connections we made in the hostel haze
Still live in me in quiet ways.

Then came the job�" that weekday rhythm,
Deadlines, chats, and takeaway meals.
Another world, another tribe,
With shared goals and a quiet vibe.

We laughed through meetings and shared our fears.
We survived those stressful project years.
Some stayed close like you, my friend,
Even after the changes, the end.

And here we are, still somehow near,
Though months may pass with little to hear.
That call reminded me so well
Of all the lives I carry with me.

So here’s to school, to college nights,
To office hours and friendship lights.
To every bond that shaped my path
Different people, yet all still stay.

Farewell isn’t really “goodbye,” you see,
You all live on inside of me.

Author's Note

A few days ago, I got a call from an old office colleague. What began as a casual chat turned into a heartfelt one-hour conversation.

After the call, I sat in silence, realizing how much time has passed. From carefree school days to college adventures, from office deadlines to wedding vows, life had quietly shifted.

That moment stayed with me. It reminded me how people, places, and phases change. Yet some connections, no matter how distant, bring back a flood of memories with just one phone call.

They say a good writer finds an opportunity in everything, and that’s exactly what I’m doing here. I’m finding my little moments and turning them into words. Sometimes, even a simple “hello” can inspire a story where goodbye truly matters.

Reviews

[DIVYA]

Dear Neha,

I loved this poem on reconnecting with old friends and I also simply loved your author's note. It's very relatable and a writer is not one who has name and fame. A writer is one who simply writes to express himself/herself. True definition in your words.

As JMichael said, we simply keep rolling along in our direction untill we get a reminder from those who were once such a part of our day. It'd be great to be able to catch up once in a while but then given the busy life of today, its just wishful thinking.

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly believe writing is about expression, not recognition and I’m glad that resonated with you. Life does move fast, and reconnecting feels like a luxury sometimes, but even a small reminder brings warmth. Grateful for your thoughtful message! 💛

[JMichael]

Life is almost a seamless journey and we pass through its many stages almost without acknowledging them properly. We just seem to keep rolling along in our own directions until something like your phone call or an email reminds us of all we have endured in the past.

The very seamless nature of our lives just makes time seem to go by more quickly, so it’s nice to have a little pleasant reminder from someone we once knew, to pause time for just a moment so we can remember and smile on the memories once shared. It doesn’t happen often but it is very appreciated when it does.

[Neha agrawal]

That’s so beautifully said. Life really does move quietly and quickly, and we often don’t realize how far we’ve come until something or someone. Gently brings us back. Those small reminders mean the world, and I’m truly grateful this could be one of them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.