[23] Tale of Neshka: No Good at Goodbyes

⟬ 𝑮 𝒓 𝒐 𝒘 𝒍 ⟭

folk-rock, medieval, ballad

Tale of Neshka — No Good at Goodbyes

[Intro – spoken, intimate]
[Soft lute, quiet morning ambience]

I left a letter.
Of course I did.

I'd said goodbye to Valeros and Ezren
at the wedding last night.
They thought the letter was a terrible idea.

In hindsight,
I should have listened.

A few honest words, no awkward conversations, no tears…

[Small pause.]

Well. Fewer tears, perhaps.

I placed it outside their room before sunrise, packed my things, collected Bahl, and left.

Simple. Efficient.

And, as it turned out…

[A pause.]

A truly terrible idea.

[The lute picks up; fiddle joins.]

[Verse 1]

The city slept behind me,
the morning pale and still.
The road ran past the eastern gate
and curled around the hill.

My pack was on my shoulder.
I told myself I'd done the right thing:
a letter and a little space
to let them start their day.

[Sudden burst of lively fiddle and frame drum.]

[Neshka, spoken.]

Oh, no.

[Verse 2 – playful, fast-paced]

"NESHKA!"

I stopped.

Very slowly.

I considered pretending
that I hadn't heard a thing.

"YOU ABSOLUTE COWARD!"

Ah. Merisiel.

She came charging down the road,
barefoot, furious, half-awake.
Not a stitch of proper clothing on her,
and a very strong case to make.

I'd seen her face armed mercenaries.
I'd never feared her more.

[Spoken.]

"Good morning?"

"GOOD MORNING?!

YOU LEFT A LETTER?!"

"In my defence—"

"NO MORE WORDS!"

[Music kicks back in.]

She called me selfish, stubborn,
a coward and a fool.

I might have mentioned she was naked.

That did not improve her mood.

[Spoken.]

"You're not even wearing shoes."

"DO YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT SHOES?"

Fair enough.

[Instrumental flourish.]

[Verse 3 – rhythm eases]

Then beneath the shouting,
beneath the anger and the noise,
I saw the hurt she tried to hide
behind her furious voice.

"I'm not letting you leave like this."

She said it quietly.

And somehow that was worse
than all the shouting had been.

I looked at her—my oldest friend,
ready to drag me back by my ears.
For once, I couldn't find
a clever thing to say.

[Chorus – warm folk-rock]

So here we are, my reckless friend,
another road, another end.
No clever trick, no last escape,
no letter left to seal our fate.

You came for me, and here you stand.
I thought I'd leave without goodbye.
But you were never one
to let me try.

[Soft cello and lute.]

[Verse 4 – intimate]

I told her I was leaving.
Not because I'd loved her less,
not because I'd grown tired
of our beautiful mess.

I told her I would miss her.
She rolled her eyes at that,
then stepped forward and held me
before I could take it back.

We made no grand promises.
We didn't say forever.
We didn't pretend that distance
would change absolutely nothing.

She hugged me hard enough
to make my ribs complain.
I held her just as tightly.
Neither of us explained.

[Spoken, as footsteps approach.]

Then another voice came from the road.

"Merisiel?"

Kyra had finally caught up,
carrying Merisiel's clothes
and looking considerably less murderous.

[Spoken.]

"Thank you, Kyra."

"You're welcome."

[Verse 5 – gentle, warm]

Kyra smiled as if she'd known
this day would come along.
She'd seen it in the little things:
my eyes upon the road,
the places I might go.

She didn't try to hold me
or tell me not to be free.
She knew I hadn't stopped loving them.
She knew I had to leave.

[Chorus – fuller, heartfelt]

So here we are, my reckless friend,
another road, another end.
No clever trick, no last escape,
no letter left to seal our fate.

You came for me, and now I see:
some goodbyes are meant to be.
Not every road must end in tears.
Some friends stay with us through the years.

[Bridge – quiet cello]

I was glad they came.
Both of them.

I'd wanted to avoid this moment,
but not because I didn't care.
I just didn't know how to leave
the life we'd learned to share.

A little anger.
A little laughter.
A hug that lasted far too long.

And the quiet understanding
that nothing here had gone wrong.

[Verse 6 – gentle rhythm returns]

Merisiel told me to write.
I said I probably wouldn't.
She threatened to find me.
I said I didn't doubt she could.

Kyra hugged me gently
and wished me luck along the way.
Then Merisiel hugged me once more
and had nothing left to say.

For once, I didn't make a joke.
I simply held her there.
When we finally let go,
I breathed the morning air.

[Final Chorus – hopeful]

So here I go, my reckless friend,
not every road is truly an end.
I'll carry you wherever I roam,
your laughter will still feel like home.

No letter left, no words unsaid.
I've walked a thousand roads before.
And now I know
what friends are for.

[Outro – spoken, warm and amused]
[Soft lute and cello]

And so I left.

Properly, this time.

With a goodbye.
Two hugs.
One very angry elf.
And a human carrying her clothes.

[Small amused breath.]

I suppose it could have gone worse.

Much worse.

Come on, Bahl.
Let's see what's out there.

[Hopeful medieval folk instrumental. Fade out.]

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Tale of Neshka — No Good at Goodbyes [Intro – spoken, intimate] [Soft lute, quiet morning ambience] I left a letter. Of course I did. I'd said goodbye to Valeros and Ezren at the wedding last night. They thought the letter was a terrible idea. In hindsight, I should have listened. A few honest words, no awkward conversations, no tears… [Small pause.] Well. Fewer tears, perhaps. I placed it outside their room before sunrise, packed my things, collected Bahl, and left. Simple. Efficient. And, as it turned out… [A pause.] A truly terrible idea. [The lute picks up; fiddle joins.] [Verse 1] The city slept behind me, the morning pale and still. The road ran past the eastern gate and curled around the hill. My pack was on my shoulder. I told myself I'd done the right thing: a letter and a little space to let them start their day. [Sudden burst of lively fiddle and frame drum.] [Neshka, spoken.] Oh, no. [Verse 2 – playful, fast-paced] "NESHKA!" I stopped. Very slowly. I considered pretending that I hadn't heard a thing. "YOU ABSOLUTE COWARD!" Ah. Merisiel. She came charging down the road, barefoot, furious, half-awake. Not a stitch of proper clothing on her, and a very strong case to make. I'd seen her face armed mercenaries. I'd never feared her more. [Spoken.] "Good morning?" "GOOD MORNING?! YOU LEFT A LETTER?!" "In my defence—" "NO MORE WORDS!" [Music kicks back in.] She called me selfish, stubborn, a coward and a fool. I might have mentioned she was naked. That did not improve her mood. [Spoken.] "You're not even wearing shoes." "DO YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT SHOES?" Fair enough. [Instrumental flourish.] [Verse 3 – rhythm eases] Then beneath the shouting, beneath the anger and the noise, I saw the hurt she tried to hide behind her furious voice. "I'm not letting you leave like this." She said it quietly. And somehow that was worse than all the shouting had been. I looked at her—my oldest friend, ready to drag me back by my ears. For once, I couldn't find a clever thing to say. [Chorus – warm folk-rock] So here we are, my reckless friend, another road, another end. No clever trick, no last escape, no letter left to seal our fate. You came for me, and here you stand. I thought I'd leave without goodbye. But you were never one to let me try. [Soft cello and lute.] [Verse 4 – intimate] I told her I was leaving. Not because I'd loved her less, not because I'd grown tired of our beautiful mess. I told her I would miss her. She rolled her eyes at that, then stepped forward and held me before I could take it back. We made no grand promises. We didn't say forever. We didn't pretend that distance would change absolutely nothing. She hugged me hard enough to make my ribs complain. I held her just as tightly. Neither of us explained. [Spoken, as footsteps approach.] Then another voice came from the road. "Merisiel?" Kyra had finally caught up, carrying Merisiel's clothes and looking considerably less murderous. [Spoken.] "Thank you, Kyra." "You're welcome." [Verse 5 – gentle, warm] Kyra smiled as if she'd known this day would come along. She'd seen it in the little things: my eyes upon the road, the places I might go. She didn't try to hold me or tell me not to be free. She knew I hadn't stopped loving them. She knew I had to leave. [Chorus – fuller, heartfelt] So here we are, my reckless friend, another road, another end. No clever trick, no last escape, no letter left to seal our fate. You came for me, and now I see: some goodbyes are meant to be. Not every road must end in tears. Some friends stay with us through the years. [Bridge – quiet cello] I was glad they came. Both of them. I'd wanted to avoid this moment, but not because I didn't care. I just didn't know how to leave the life we'd learned to share. A little anger. A little laughter. A hug that lasted far too long. And the quiet understanding that nothing here had gone wrong. [Verse 6 – gentle rhythm returns] Merisiel told me to write. I said I probably wouldn't. She threatened to find me. I said I didn't doubt she could. Kyra hugged me gently and wished me luck along the way. Then Merisiel hugged me once more and had nothing left to say. For once, I didn't make a joke. I simply held her there. When we finally let go, I breathed the morning air. [Final Chorus – hopeful] So here I go, my reckless friend, not every road is truly an end. I'll carry you wherever I roam, your laughter will still feel like home. No letter left, no words unsaid. I've walked a thousand roads before. And now I know what friends are for. [Outro – spoken, warm and amused] [Soft lute and cello] And so I left. Properly, this time. With a goodbye. Two hugs. One very angry elf. And a human carrying her clothes. [Small amused breath.] I suppose it could have gone worse. Much worse. Come on, Bahl. Let's see what's out there. [Hopeful medieval folk instrumental. Fade out.]

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