Witness to Their Final Parting
60
I instinctively looked up
As they entered the departure lounge
Together holding hands
Their presence
Drew me to them instantly
If I had seen them apart
I would have still known
They belonged together
They sat opposite
I tried not to stare
But I couldn’t drag my eyes away
Love radiated
But
Something more
Her head rested on his shoulder
He squeezed her hand
A tear fell
He gently wiped it away
Pulling her closer
They thought they were alone
With their thoughts
But I knew then
I was
Feeling their pain
For them it was over
They stood slowly
As if in slow motion
They walked to the gate
Only she showed her passport
And one ticket given
They embraced
One final time
She turned and walked away
He stood there
Motionless
Watching her disappear
He just stood
Transfixed
She’ll come back
Surely
She must come back
He waited
She didn’t
He turned away
Not knowing what to do
He walked back to the gate
And looked
She was gone
He ran his hands through his hair
Looking desperate
He stepped forward
Was he going to run after her?
He hesitated
Then slowly walked to the window
And looked out at the runway
The plane stationary
Waiting
He watched it
Head bowed in despair
He wiped away tears
Pacing up and down
And watching that plane
There was still time
She could come back
Don’t let her go
No
Don’t let her go
Minutes ticked by
The plane slowly moved forward
I watched with him
As it picked up speed
Up into the air
And she was gone
He stared a long time
Out there
At nothing
She was gone
My Son and I were sat in the departure lounge in Utah airport USA, waiting for our flight to be called. The year was 1998 and non passengers were allowed to wait with passengers.
We noticed them initially because they were such a strikingly handsome couple. They were completely absorbed in each other and seemed oblivious to their surroundings.
Within minutes I had noticed their obvious distress, my son nudged me and I knew he’d noticed as well.
The minutes passed and we were both feeling a little uncomfortable by now and were quite relieved when they both stood up.
My son whispered “you know what’s going to happen don’t you? Only one of them is going to leave on the flight”
We were mesmerized by their emotions, so dignified yet such a dramatic scene that we simply couldn’t look away.
She showed her passport and ticket and they embraced.
“No, no” my son’s words in my ears “Don’t let her go”
She walked away and he seemed to stand there and crumble.
“Go after her, you have to go after her” my son’s voice was choked with emotion, I couldn’t speak, I just prayed he would.
For a moment he seemed to straighten up as if he had made the decision, instead he walked away, his head bowed in total devastation.
We wanted our flight to be called so we no longer had to witness this heartbreak, but it only continued as he paced up and down staring out of the window.
We sensed even then, that he couldn’t believe it would end.
Eventually the plane started to move and we knew it was over.
We both looked over to the gate, maybe there was a chance, a very slight chance that she wasn’t on the flight and had come back to him.
It was in that moment as he too stared down the empty gateway, we knew that he had one last final hope, that whatever stood in the way of their love could have been overcome, we wept for them.
He walked away, his footsteps heavy, shoulders drooping, sobbing a broken man.
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Oh MM I hope you have a box of tissues in here.
This was so heartbreaking, I could feel their pain and yours.
Doesn't it make you want to know the outcome, if she ever did come back or maybe followed her. Oh MM this is so touching and you have written so gently.
It gets all my votes
Hello Sunnie, airports can be very emotional places!
This was such a sad scene to witness...
Thank you for your lovely comments, take care MM
Hi Rosemay, I have thought about them so many times since.
It was when he went 'back' to the gate in the hope she was there, that we realised there was a glimmer of hope for them...
Many thanks for your comments and votes, best wishes MM
Hi MM, what a touching moment where we can only imagine the outcome. You two have got the job as our roving reporters, but perhaps you may never capture that perfectly sad, but beautiful moment again. It is captured now and I'm so pleased that you thought it worth sharing. cheers.
Hi MM, Very sad poem, my Friend. I thought that she would finally not board the plane!
You have painted the scene beautifully. Voted Up. Best Wishes, Kamalesh
Very nice MM. I always think Airports are romantic and emotional places. There's always a story or two to witness. Thanks for a nice Monday morning read :-)
Hi attemptedhumour, now I quite fancy myself being a roving reporter! but I'll pass on the emotional scenes!!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, best wishes MM
Hello Kamalesh, when he went back to the gate, we too hoped she would be there...
It was a sad scene to witness.
Thank you for your comments, hope all is well with you, best wishes MM
Hi Simply Untangled, yes airports certainly are emotional places!
Glad you enjoyed the read and thank you for your comments, enjoy your day, best wishes MM
Good-byes are always so sad. But, airports do also give us glimples of the bliss of reunions. I hope she took the next plane home. Beautifully written.
You painted a moving, sad picture of these two. I was SO hoping she would come back to him! Voted you Up, etc.etc.
Hi sweethearts2, I have thought about this couple so many times, wondering what had happened to them. I like the thought of her catching the next plane home, I hope she did!
Thank you for your comments, best wishes MM
Hi Mary, so were we! it was so sad to watch their parting.
Thank you for your comments and votes, it's much appreciated, best wishes MM
Oh my, this was so heartwrenching yet exquisitely written and I was most impressed by the sensitivity of your son who, it seems, would have followed his heart, his love, his life or convinced her to stay.
Voted up across the board except for funny.
This was very well written, Movie Master. Up and awesome.
Hi Gail, my son (18 years old at the time) was quite upset by it all and kept mumbling, 'don't let her go - don't let her go'
Thank you for your comments and votes, take care best wishes MM
Hi Will, I really appreciate your comments and votes, they mean a great deal to me, thank you.
Best wishes MM
How beautiful and sad. You managed the capture the tragic pathos of this couple--love not meant to be? Your power of observation is impeccable and I wish you the best!
Airports are one of the best people watching places in the world. One can see joy, sadness, weariness and oh so much more. The hardest I was ever hit at an airport was when a person was waiting for a casket being transported. It would be so cool if the people you saw read this and commented. I feel badly but I really enjoyed reading this poem about their sadness.
Hi MM ... I was hoping for a happy ending but your hub is further proof that they don't always happen. Well told, I was hooked.
Hi anginwu, yes for whatever reason it seemed this love wasn't to be.
Thank you for your comments, take care, all the best MM
Hi Hyphenbird, normally I like 'people watching' at an airport! Wouldn't it be great if they commented and told their story! I would want a happy ending though...
Thank you for your great comments, take care MM
Hi Sunshine, if only she had re-appeared at the gate!
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
Your description lifted me right inside that airport. My eyes fastened on you and your son as you watched this tearing of love that your heart caught and you have now shared with us. You swept us into the scene, very well done.
Hi Mike, this was a different style of writing for me - I really appreciate your comments, in fact I am chuffed to bits!
Take care MM
My English to English dictionary tells me 'chuffed to bits', is a good thing.:) Have a great day.
MM You had me close to tears, with your beautiful poem. This same exact thing has happened to me, only instead of a plane it was a train.
Movie Master,
It is interesting to hear you tell Mike this is a different style for you. For me, it felt like you took a mental picture of the scene and wrote it with the exact same passion in which you share your photography. So, you see, it seemed like you are a seasoned veteran as I am using a wad of those above-mentioned tissues!
Voted UP & UABI (just got a notice of new hubs a couple hours ago... how about you?), mar.
I know how he felt because last year I had to go England to see my sick brother. As I kiss my husband goodbye tears welled up, although I would be back in 10 days it still felt as I was leaving him. He called on my cell phone my tears welled again telling him I was already missing him. Our reunion was amazing and tears once again.
This is a very sad poem, MM, especially since it's based on a real life situation. It's a puzzle too - if the couple were so sad to separate, I wonder why they had to part? Thanks for sharing your observations so effectively.
Beautiful poetic narration. The composition has a depth because your emotions are very true. Your story illuminates the poem.
My friend is arriving at San Francisco International Airport as we speak. This poem describes the beginning of his flight. He got married in Ireland two weeks ago.
His,Irish,wife, a friend of mine as well must complete the school year. There is also a huge amount of paperwork to immigrate to the US married to a citizen or not. Thousands of dollars and time hopefully will bring his wife here. Thanks for the beautiful hub
Hi Paddyboy, It's very sad watching someone saying goodbye - there was just something so final about this, the man looked heartbroken, I felt I wanted to comfort him!
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
Hi Maria, yes I have got my email now, it's a 3 in 1! 300 new hubs to read!!
Thank you for your fabulous complimentary comments, they really do mean a lot to me!
See you soon, take care MM
Hi writer20, you had me in tears!
Many thanks for dropping by and your comments, even though they made me cry!
have a wonderful day and see you soon, best wishes MM
Hi Alicia, now that's just what my son and I kept asking ourselves, it's a real mystery, the parting was obviously heartbreaking.
Because he went back to the gate we got the impression there was a chance she would come back. So what was it that had priority over that love?
thank you for your comments, take care MM
Hello vinaya, it's always good to see you and your comments mean a lot to me, thank you.
Best wishes MM
Hi tirlesstraveler, my heart goes out to your friend and his wife, I hope they will be reunited soon.
Thank you for visiting and your comments, it's much appreciated, take care MM
I felt this pain deeply, the last time I saw my son was when I was farewelling him at an airport. I didn't want him to go. Three days later we lost him in an accident. Airports will always be a very sad place for me.
You are very perceptive to pick up the huge amount of emotion felt by this couple. Thank you MM for sharing this sad story.
I am speechless. I felt it ALL, so well written, so descriptive. I would have sat there sobbing throughout the whole thing. I believe in my heart that the saddest word in the world is "good-bye." THANK YOU for sharing I truly believe what you shared will impact many in a positive way and make them re-think if ever in this kind of situation. Blessings always, Sparklea
Hello Fennelseed, I know of your grief and loss and my heart goes out to you, my very best wishes and hugs to you as always my friend, MM
Hello Sparklea, thank you for dropping by.
My son and I were in tears in the end, it was heartbreaking to watch.
I agree 'goodbye' is the saddest word...
Many thanks for your comments, it's much appreciated, take care MM
I loved your poem and the scene that played out before you and your son in the airport. Reminded me somewhat of a Nicolas Cage movie, 'Family Man'. He left her though, never to return. Beautiful rendition of true love gone wrong. Thanks for the share, MM. : )
This was a fascinating story MM and I was hooked immediately! You have a wonderful way to describe the surrounding and the emotions in just a few words. Wonderful! Like everybody else I wish there was a way to know if they ever met again? Voted up and more!
Tina
Votes up MM. Long time no write:) It feels like forever. I am going on my 14th day in a roll, two jobs, worn out I am. This really had me in tears. At first, I thought it may be death. Even still, such heartbreak. Knowing it was true, wow, so sad. Great story, sad ending though.
Hi september girl, I guess this love wasn't meant to be!
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
Hello Tina, thank you for your very kind comments and votes, it's much appreciated, I wonder what happened to them...
Take care MM
Hi TLW, I am all behind with reading and writing! I didn't have a notification email for 3 days and am now ploughing through 400 hubs to read!!
You are on a roll! I need to catch up:-)
Thank you so much for dropping by, I really appreciate your visits, comments and support.
Take care, don't work too hard my friend, best wishes MM
I like this hub MM... Every love story have a unique bitter sweet ending...
Wow! Am wordless[lol, i mean speechless]
this is heartbreaking. Its just sad and tiring. Love gone sour really sucks. Great!
Hi mondkill, this love wasn't to be, so sad!
Thank you for your comments, take care and enjoy your day, MM
Hi ubanichijioke, Loved your comments, thank you!
Take care, have a wonderful day, best wishes MM
Oh how moving was this???? I felt I was there by your side also witnessing such sadness.
So tenderly written and not one I will forget in a hurry either.
Take care and have a great day.
Eiddwen.
Hello Eiddwen, thank you my friend for your great comments and continued support, it means a lot to me.
Have a wonderful day, best wishes MM
A Beautiful and Heartbreaking Read Movie Master...It's what we see day to day, that gives us our Inspirations for our Hubs...So well done!
Hi, MM. How are you today? I hope you always fine and healthy. It's very touching poem. You always do the best. Thanks for share with us. Rated up! Have a nice day...
Prasetio
Hello b.Malin, I have never forgotton how sad it was watching this couple and could still feel that sadness writing this.
Thank you for dropping by and your comments, best wishes MM
Hello prasetio, I am well thank you and I hope all is well with you, it's always good to see you and I appreciate your lovely comments, best wishes MM
Movie Master: French writer Albert Camus considered airports a prime example of the absurd powerlessness of human existence. Your poem and your ensuing explanation beautifully, philosophically, rhythmically but relentlessly articulate, among many things, the nonsensical contradiction of the possibility of human love and its impossibility through human action/inaction, commission/omission.
Thank you for sharing such "terrible beauty," voted up, etc.,
Derdriu
Hello Derdriu, normally I like people watching at airports. You see so much emotion in greetings and farewells, but there was something different about this parting - it was just so 'final'
Many thanks for your comments, they mean a great to me, best wishes MM
MM - terribly sad. :(
I hope their separation was only temporary.
Maybe with some miles between them - someone had a change of mind and heart.
Hi FFP, they just looked the 'perfect' couple, I've wondered so many times about them...
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
MM, this was achingly beautiful and so sad! I was almost crying as you rendered this scene so well.. This was heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing.
(Tweeted and shared with followers)
Such an emotional poem. Up, Awesome, Beautiful!
Travel is always so interesting--and gives us much to write about. Bless that couples' hearts!
As I left my children and grandchildren in the PNW once again this past month I began to see Shakespeare in an altogether different light--a very dim light. There is NOTHING sweet in a sorrowful parting.
Some people say that it is a gift to ever feel such sorrow, but those people must like pain, or they have never loved so much that once that love took hold of them their own hearts would forever walk around outside their body.
Nay, there is nothing sweet in such partings.
Oh MM...what a touching and compelling thing you and your son saw...the heart ache that you both felt for that poor couple...the man, who held on to a very last hope. Oh my goodness...what we people do to ourselves when we walk away from love. They say that "love overcomes all." Well, I sure wish it had for the couple and for you and your son (what a wonderful man he is...so sensitive and empathetic..wow!) who carried the image up to the moment you were led to write this bittersweet story. Thank you for sharing a bit of your experience with your son through this lovely story. I am teary eyed...I wish it had worked out differently for that couple.
Hello Prairieprincess, it was a heartbreaking scene to witness...
Thank you for your comments, the tweet and sharing it's much appreciated, best wishes MM
This poem is told in a beautiful and compelling way, one can only hope they eventually where reunited. How special it is that you shared witnessing this with your son. Airports are strange places - witnessing peoples joy at being together again and sadness at parting. Well done.
Hello Susan, thank you so much for your comments and votes, take care MM
Hi R Talloni, I agree, 'goodbye' to a loved one is heartbreaking, I feel for you saying goodbye to your children and grandchildren, I always dread saying goodbye to Cloverleaf (my daughter) when she has visited from Canada, there definitely is no joy in that!
Many thanks for your comments, take care MM
Hello Lucky Cats, it was a heartbreaking scene to witness, we felt so sorry for the man, he was obviously heartbroken, we wanted to comfort him...
My son is a very sensitive person and was quite upset by it all.
Like you, we so wished it had turned out differently.
Thank you for your comments, best wishes MM
Hi MM,
Beautifully expressed indeed. Love has no boundaries thus, when separated can be very very emotional. But, it is also said that love when separated grows fonder so, this little break for this couple could be more beneficial ;-)
Voted up as beautiful
Hello 2uesday, I'd like to think that they were reunited, I hope so.
My son and I often talk about this and it still makes us sad!
Airports are certainly emotional places!
Thank you for your comments, take care, best wishes MM
Hello Ruchira, they say 'absense makes the heart grow fonder' maybe they were reunited, I hope so...
Thank you for your lovely comments and votes, best wishes MM
Hi Movie Master
So heartbreaking. I would like to think that there was eventually a happy ending and they were reunited.
Voted up and awesome.
Best Wishes
Sue
Hi Movie Master. That was so real I could really see it in my minds eye and I did get kind of choked up too hoping for a different outcome.
Awesome post..Thanks
Hello Sue, it was heartbreaking to watch, they just looked the 'perfect' couple.
Thank you for your comments and votes, best wishes MM
Hi tebo, as he returned to the gate, my son and I were on the edge of our seats just hoping she would be there..
Many thanks for your comments, take care MM
Hi htodd, many thanks for dropping by and your comments, it's much appreciated, best wishes MM
MM, sad story wonderfully told. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hello PDXKaraokeGuy, and thank you for dropping by and your comments, it's always nice to see you, enjoy your day, best wishes MM
Hi movie maker, a really touching story and i do hope that couple would have reunited by now and their sepration is only temporary.
Hi sweetie, I wish we knew what the outcome was....
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
Very beautiful work. It is very hard to part when we love someone so dearly. It is like never being happy anymore until the mate returns. Like love birds people can definitely be. God Bless You, and your precious family.
Hello Stars, It' hard saying 'goodbye' when my daughter returns to Canada, I'm upset for days!!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, I hope all is well with you, best wishes MM
Oh my....
This was beautiful in a heart breaking way
Hi nighthag, thank you for dropping by and your comments, they are much appreciated, best wishes MM
Goodbyes are shared in so many, many ways everyday including the process of dying. At least in life, we always have to hope that they might return...sometimes hope means everything. Nice story. WB
Hello Wayne, well said, where there is life there is always hope...
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes MM
Nice story but a tragedy. I was feeling every bit of the words and wanted to read, feel more and get to the end. Watching an episode like this is a bit uncomfortable and to experience in reality not in the movie is for sure interesting to watch til the end. Thanks for sharing.
Hi carol, it was so sad to witness, we felt so sorry for this couple.
Thank you for dropping by and your comments, best wishes MM
This is absolutely a wonderful poem telling a story, I know there's a name for this, so sad I was hoping he would go after her too as I read the story, such a lovely emotional sad story, hopefully one day they will meet again, this poem truly touches the heart, thanks for sharing such an amazing story in words. Have a great evening. lyns
Hi lyns, we couldn't help but wonder what stood in the way of their love, it just seemed so tragic, when he went back to the gate in the hope she was there, it was just heartbreaking to watch.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting, I hope you have a lovely evening, it's morning here! how confusing! all the best MM
This was very beautiful. She had to leave he was married and couldn't leave his family. So sad.
Hi moonlake, good scenario! I have thought of so many, I wish I knew...
Thank you for visiting and your comments, best wishes MM
Thanks moviemaster for the great post..nice
Dear MM, Great Hub!!!! It's so sad to see the one you love disappear before your very eyes. Your poem was so touching; I could feel the tears in my eyes. I could feel my heart sank with each word. Keep up the good work.
Hi htodd, thank you for dropping by and your comments, take care MM
Hi nina, thank you so much for your comments, it's good to know I was able to capture the emotion in my writing.
Take care, best wishes MM
This is sooo beautiful, I could just picture the whole thing. Am close to tears now :(
Hi shami, this was such a sad scene to witness, I guess we will never know what happened....
Thank you for visiting and your comments, take care MM
Lesley,
Your hub was remarkable. I would love to see what you could with a screenplay! This poem was so descriptive and amazing, it sucked me in to where I was in the airport with you! I felt like I was reading a really good book too! Voted up, shared too!
Hi iamaudraleigh, wow you have certainly put a smile on my face and made my day!
Thank you so much for your fabulous comments, votes and sharing, it's much appreciated.
Take care and have a wonderful weekend, Lesley
Sunnie Day Level 8 Commenter 6 months ago
OH MM this was so heartbreaking to wittness those sad goodbyes. You have to wonder what their story was. The goodbyes that get me everytime is when I see a soldier saying goodbye to his family at an airport. I wittnessed my daughter saying goodbye to her husband it is so sad. Their hearts were breaking. You described this scene perfectly.
Love,
Sunnie