"Tears of Loneliness"

Written August 13, 2001 By: Emily Chen First thing in the morning, I must see my friends off at McWhorter Hall. The time has come for everyone to return home. I hug them, I kiss them, Wipe tars from their faces. This can't be the end, Please, not now, not ever. As the buses pull out to leave, A few friends and I sob and wave To our departing friends Whom we may never see again. Throughout the day, More of my friends depart from camp. I try to be strong, But the tears still come As I say goodbye to more of my friends. With drying tears, I sit and wait. Waiting for something, Waiting for my fate. I look around at the nearly empty picnic tables Scattered around main camp And think of all my friends That have left me for home. Saddened, tears creep into my eyes. I look up at a distant call of a familiar voice, My closest friend has come to say goodbye. We hug and weep and say our farewells. I watch her as she walks away quickly - Hand over her mouth, trying to hold back tears. I am alone now With my tears flowing freely. My Macedonian friends come to comfort me But they still have other things to do And must leave me for the time being. I am alone again. Before leaving camp, I walk through our empty cabin, one last time. Past the Stone Cafeteria and Kresge Auditorium, Through the nearly empty picnic tables Scattered around main camp, Past Picasso and Frolich Where I used to hang out with friends, And onto McWhorter Hall Where I would wait for my departure. At McWhorter, I am among a few friends From Florida, Macedonia, Costa Rica, Germany, Finland... I am going to miss them all. And with that thought, a tear runs down my cheek. Upon arriving at the airport, I join three friends at a table in a small restaraunt. But that awful time came again Where we were forced to say goodbye. 3 Germans, a Floridian, and a Rhode Islander Board a small express plane together. I begin to cry as I read The train letters friends had written me. But why? The train letters are full of positive words. All the memories made over the past 8 weeks Are not to be forgotten. Once we arrive in Chicago, We must part with the Germans. My friend and I walk through the airport together Until we, too, must finally part. With tears, we turn to go our seperate ways. I am alone for good now. I must be strong And travel this last stretch on my own Until I arrive home. Home. The word scares me. Will things be the same when I return home? No, some things will be different, That is a given. Change is not something one can control, But we must accept it, Whether we like it or not. I wonder how much I have changed Over the past 8 weeks? I don't want to go back home. How can I explain to my friends The pain I am going through? How will they understand? They have always been there for me over the years, But this is different. I'm not sure they can help me Through my sorrow. I must pull throught this alone. I know I am strong, I know I can do this. But a part of my heart will always be With my Interlochen friends All over the world. Now I wonder: Will we all stay in touch In the years to come? We promised to never lose contact And that we would all meet up again, Together. Will that wish become reality? Who knows. All we can do is wait. This wait will be painful. I pull my hat down over my eyes As I have done so many times today. For my tears are uncontrollable As I think of how Alone I have become, Once again. Alexander Hanna, Jennifer Lee, Michael Young, and Man Yui Kitty Cheung, Erik Higgins, Sophie Tangermann, David Brauer, and Ashley Buckley, William Frampton, Helena Berg, Yun-Ting Lee, and Valentin Raditiu. How could I ever forget The names of those in The WYSO Club of 2001? I will miss everyone from Interlochen. They were always there for me And I'll never forget them.