See You Later

The school hallways were unusually quiet for the last day of school. The usual chatter and laughter had given way to the heavy silence of impending goodbyes.

Leo Carter stood by his locker, his fingers tracing the familiar dents and scratches on its door. He had just finished third grade, and summer should have been a time of excitement and freedom. Instead, it was marked by the anxiety of leaving behind everything he knew.

His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Carter, had landed jobs overseas, a necessary move to address their financial problems.

Leo understood the reasons but couldn't shake the sadness of leaving his friends, his school, and most importantly, Ella Lawson.

Ella had been his rock, his defender against the relentless teasing he endured for his weight. She was everything he aspired to be: confident, popular, and kind-hearted.

Leo glanced at the clock, each tick bringing him closer to the moment he dreaded. He took a deep breath and walked towards the schoolyard, where Ella had promised to meet him.

The warm June sun did little to comfort him as he stepped outside and spotted her waiting by their favorite tree.

Ella stood with her arms crossed, trying to look brave, but the glimmer in her eyes betrayed her emotions. She wore a bright smile, the kind that had always cheered him up on his worst days, but today it was tinged with sadness.

"Hey, Leo," she called out, her voice steady but soft.

"Hey, Ella," he replied, forcing a smile.

They stood in silence for a moment, each unsure how to start their goodbye. The playground, usually their battlefield of imagination and laughter, felt like a stage for a final act.

"I got you something," Ella said, breaking the silence. She pulled a small, wrapped box from her backpack. "Open it when you get to your new home."

Leo took the box, his hands trembling slightly. "Thanks, Ella. I don't know what to say."

"Just promise me you'll come back to visit. And call me as soon as you get there," she said, her voice cracking.

"I will. I promise," Leo replied, his throat tight with unshed tears.

He wanted to tell her how much her friendship meant to him, how her belief in him had kept him going through the hardest times. But the lump in his throat made it impossible. Instead, he pulled her into a hug, holding on tight as if he could somehow freeze this moment in time.

After what felt like both an eternity and a fleeting second, they pulled apart. Ella wiped her eyes quickly, trying to stay strong. "You better keep that promise, Leo."

"I will," he whispered.

As he walked away, Leo cast a final glance over his shoulder, committing the image of Ella standing by their tree to memory. He knew this wasn't goodbye forever, just a "see you later." The determination to return one day and show her how much he had grown gave him a flicker of hope amidst his sadness.

Back at home, the moving truck was already loaded. His parents were waiting by the car, their faces a mixture of relief and concern. Leo climbed into the backseat, clutching Ella's gift tightly. As they drove away, he looked out the window, watching his old life recede into the distance.

The drive to the airport was filled with a heavy silence. Leo's mind raced with memories of his time with Ella, each one a precious reminder of the bond they shared. He silently vowed to return, not just to visit, but to show her how much he had changed and grown.

As the plane took off, Leo gazed out at the clouds, feeling a mix of fear and excitement for the future. He knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but he also knew that this was not the end, just the beginning of a new chapter. And in his heart, he held onto the promise of a reunion with his best friend, Ella.

---

A young man stood in front of a backdrop, the lights flashing rhythmically as the cameraman called out instructions.

"Great, Leo, great! Now hands in the pockets, there!" the cameraman praised, snapping photos rapidly.

Leo Carter, now fifteen and transformed into one of the country's most sought-after models, executed each pose with precision and confidence. The years had been kind to him; he had shed his childhood insecurities and emerged as a handsome, confident young man.

After the shoot, Leo wiped the sweat from his brow and took a moment to catch his breath. His personal maid, Clara Brown, approached with a bottle of water and a towel.

"You did great today, Leo," Clara said with a smile.

"Thanks, Clara," Leo replied, taking a sip of water. "I'm just glad it's over."

As he packed his things, his father, Thomas Carter, approached. "Leo, your mother and I have been talking. We know how much you miss your old life, and we think it's time you visited home."

Leo's heart raced at the thought. "Really? You mean it?"

"Yes," his father confirmed. "We believe it's important for you to reconnect with your roots and see how far you've come."

Leo nodded, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling within him. "Father, Mother, I would want to go back to our home country to start my own life there."