Goodbye

She peeped over the back seat waving goodbye
Not for the first time, but that time it was different
That time she knew what goodbye meant.

She got good at goodbyes.
Said it six more time before going off to college.
And many more since.

It was good training.
She didn't expect anyone to stay long
Unless they took their time packing up.

People come. People go.
Life goes on anyway.
She guessed it wasn't the miracle it felt like.

The miracle was how long she stayed
A place marker in time
Moving on.