Goodbye is A New Beginning

It was a golden afternoon, sunlight drifting softly across the floor. Louis woke from his nap and began searching for Eleanor, but the house was silent. He remembered the first time they met. Her hair was silver, her face lined with years, yet her smile was brighter than the sun. It was the kind of smile that made the world feel safe and full of stories. From that moment, Louis followed her everywhere. Ellie had given him a tiny backpack. Inside, she’d stitched his name with golden thread. “This backpack is special,” she’d whispered, patting his head. “Think of a happy memory, and it’ll take you there.” Louis closed his eyes and thought of her, the laughter, the stories, the smell of tea and rain on her coat. The backpack began to tremble. With a soft pop, it burst open, releasing a swirl of colorful, shimmering clouds that spiraled up toward the ceiling. Tiny golden droplets shimmered within the mist. When Louis looked closer, he realized they weren’t droplets at all. They were tiny birds made of light. Their voices formed a melody only he could hear: “Ellie has gone home, to where all stories begin again, in a world beyond this one…”