A New Life

 I feel like the last one standing. 

A longtime co-worker retired yesterday. She walked away quietly. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few that fail to realize that she's gone. We started about the same time and have known each other for forty-five years. Everyone from the earliest days is gone now. Except me. I hope she enjoys her new life. With all the hours and weekends, we've worked on every shift over the years, a new life is what it will feel like. 

Her final shift was swing shift. 3:00pm to 11:00pm. That doesn't feel proper to me. Maybe she wanted it that way? I happened to catch her, sitting alone in the office, as I was going home. It had been a minor mystery when her last day would be, and she had been using up her vacation time. I was surprised to see her as I thought she was on vacation. The wall calendar even said so. But there she was. I asked her when her last day was? "Today," she replied. Feeling near speechless, I attempted to utter congratulations and well wishes. I've always felt uncomfortable with final goodbyes. I've always felt strange about endings. Even if they are supposed to be happy.