Goodbye for now, but not forever

I was just a girl of six years old
Daddy's little princess or so I'm told.
Too long ago so the memories are dim.
But I remember the last words I had with him.

He had been called to duty for a thing called war.
Going away longer than he ever had before.
He promised he'd be back before to long.
Wouldn't even feel like he was really gone.

That day he sat down on the floor with me.
Said that this was the way that it had to be.
Cupped my tear stained face in his hands.
Tried to make things easier for a little girl to understand.

Goodbye for now, but not forever.
I'll be back soon and we'll be together.
I'm in your heart so you will never be alone.
I promise to you I will come back home.

I never saw my dad again.
Shot and killed his life came to an end.
The pain lasted for years and still to this day.
I hate what that awful thing called goodbye takes away.

I married in the spring of 81'
Man of my dreams, I knew my life had just begun.
My boy was born the fall of 82'
What joy he'd bring me, I never knew.

When he was sixteen he worked at the local store.
Saving money for the car that he longed for.
He knew Mom worried about things she had heard.
Robberies committed and all the killings that occurred.

My son would always shake his head.
Saying he was to tough to ever wind up dead.
Said "Mom, don't worry, I'm almost a man."
"No one will hurt me," he reassured as he held my hand.

He had to go now or he would be late.
Work till seven, then head out for his date.
He reassured me that he would be just fine.
Hugged me tight and said this final line:

Goodbye for now, but not forever.
I'll come home later and we'll spend time together.
Spend time with Dad tonight and enjoy your time alone.
I'll call you when the movie is done and I'm coming home.

Call never came just a knock at the door.
"Your son's been in accident on highway seventy four.
He died at the scene there was nothing we could do.
But before he died he said to tell mom and dad I love you."

My heart died again that day.
Goodbye had come to take my joy away.
Death had withered me from this life.
Got divorced as my husband said I was no longer his wife.

Now a woman of forty five
Each day a struggle to keep alive.
Heart so broken, spirit so torn and shattered.
Life needed to end for nothing else mattered.

I don't think it can get better,
I said as I sat down to write my final letter.
I must go now my dad and boy need me.
So these are the final words that you will see.

Goodbye for now, but not forever.
I killed myself so that we could be together.
My life was not full, I just felt so alone.
But now the pain is over, I'm finally coming home.