On the journey of life, we continuously meet and bid farewell to people. Some are like shooting stars, briefly streaking across the night sky, leaving only a fleeting glimpse; others are like stars, which, although eventually drifting away, brightly illuminated our youth for a long time. Farewell is not just separating from others, but also saying goodbye to a prior phase of yourself.

As we age, goodbyes happen faster, and feelings become more numb, faintly recalling a few moments.

Youth is a grand farewell. We say goodbye to friends who sweat on the field with us, partners gossiping in the corridors after class, and friendships once thought eternal. Back then, we believed that as long as we tried hard enough, we could grasp the tail of time, hold onto everyone around us. But as the gears of time turn, when we embark on different life paths, close intimacies turn into a simple "long time no see."

Besides friends, those we bid farewell to may also be lovers once passionately loved. That eternally promised relationship ultimately disintegrates under the test of reality. From having much to talk about to having nothing to say, from inseparable to drifting apart, the end of this relationship forces us to confront a harsh fact: not all love can last until the end; often, love fades silently, like a movie scene ending with a casual "Oh, you’re here too?" Of course, reality often doesn't meet our expectations; in a big city, two people who once loved each other may never meet again, learning that "Rather than drowning together, it's better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes."

More difficult to detect, we also bid farewell to our past selves. The reckless, fearless self; the one filled with fantasies about love, unafraid of the future. We say goodbye to these immature images, learn to endure, understand compromise, and bear more responsibilities.

Every farewell is like shedding an old skin, allowing the new self to grow.

Though accompanied by pain and loss, farewell is not merely about losing but gaining.

Each farewell is an opportunity for self-examination. It forces us to stop and reconsider our life's direction. When a friendship or romantic relationship ends, we must face issues we're reluctant to acknowledge: our own shortcomings in the relationship, the true nature of the other person, and the real significance of the relationship. By learning from this, we can become more mature, stronger, and prepared for the next encounter.

Loss also means making room. Only by letting go can new possibilities enter our lives. Saying goodbye to old social circles gives us the chance to meet new people; parting from unsuitable relationships allows us to meet the right person; saying goodbye to our past self enables us to become a better version. Every farewell is for meeting a more beautiful future.

Time may dilute our connections, but those shared memories are forever imprinted in the heart. Although this farewell is full of regret, it helps us understand that human relationships need not last forever; some meetings serve only to accompany us through a certain stage of life. And those who have accompanied us, even if now distant, have already become part of us, making today’s us better.