FEARING A FAREWELL - time is not on my side

The day had arrived; a blustery and cold day, but sunny enough to tend to packing up “some” items in the ominous pod. It was strange to carry things down four flights of steps (my thighs would pay for it later) and, while I hoped I would’ve been further along, I just simply…was not.
I had to have an exit interview with HR, to finalize my keys, my phone, my pension, my last paycheck…oh the details. I finally handed off my keys to Christine, like a yoke lifted off my neck. She accepted them with a certain reluctance, knowing that there were a bunch more of facility keys in her newly inherited desk. There is a bit of power that comes with keys…if you can open doors, then you can do pretty much anything. It was a gift bestowed upon me that I took for granted; I hope she does not do the same.
And while I can’t quite recall all the details, because I had to say good bye to so many in the building in so many varying places, I finally walked out of The Grand…keyless…and I decided to take the main entrance, those looming 14’ doors that have been so welcoming for so long. I turned and glanced at its Parisian cast iron façade once more; the sun was starting to set, and…as I was just about to walk on and due to the setting sun, the sensors for its multicolored lights illuminated its 5 glorious stories…I was being bid farewell even by she herself; The Grand. I smiled in awe and wonder. Then turned away.
Errands to the bank, errands to the stores, I was quickly up the stairs of my four flight apartment, and finalizing a few more boxes and streamlining my thoughts: this was it. Tonight was my going away “gala” and then…off I would go, in less than 12 hours.
My roommate Karin arrived at the apartment, her custom, around 6 pm…we only had about an hour left to be with each other. Karin has been a true blessing; she comes from San Francisco after living in DE for most of her life; but California was where she, too, bloomed. Perhaps it was another one of those serendipitous moments that she joined me as my roommate a year ago…perhaps she was laying a foundation for me with all her glorious tales. We spent many a night out on “the moondeck” (as she Christened it with twinkle lights and candles), and had our share of spats as to who was to provide toilet paper versus paper towels. One thing I admire about Karin (among many things), is her ability to get the job done; she waits for nothing…lesson learned. I only hope my landlord, now in her hands, can oblige…if not, he’s gonna have to deal with her fiery energy, of which mine pales in comparison.
She was coming to the Farewell, and we worked out minor details of what her inheritance would be: largely, everything I had already inherited and was in the apartment…with the exception of my massage reading chair, and the bistro kitchen table set. Other than that, she got it good. I was off to a fully furnished place, and did not need much. She and I held fast with a strong hug; she knew that she would not get to spend much time with me at the Farewell.
But I later learned that she had rearranged everything she inherited in the apartment (what, less than a week later??); her call. I am glad things now suit her needs.
I put on my best Californian jeans (compliments of my excursion with Sean back over Thanksgiving), and my favorite orange oxford (a gift from my ex Steve, with whom I had recently made peace after our breakup in April…another catalyst in this process…but not THE REASON…I am not running away, I am running TO)…I added my favorite new shoes, and as I was futzing with my hair (always a challenge), Melissa called me: it was exactly 7 pm. I assured her I was on my way…and I put on my windbreaker and hood, because the cold had given way to a small rainstorm…I worried about my mother driving in this weather.
Fifteen minutes later, I had parked at the lot where I had done so for six years, climbed the hill a bit, and decided to go into the back entrance of the building…knowing full well that, without keys, the only thing “still intact” was my keycode to the pad outside its entrance.
I opened the door and shook off the rain. I stared at the long hallway which I had tread for so many mornings I simply cannot count; then a similarly cloaked figure started walking down the same hall towards me. The fluorescent lights did not reveal, and I had already taken my glasses off to wipe off the mist. The petite figure ran for me as I put on my specs and my eyes adjusted.