I’m only minutes away, mom.

It’s what I told her over and over,
though it never seemed to matter.
The first born child was finally leaving,
though it was only across town.

College always felt centuries away,
but suddenly it was here so fast.
I packed up everything I would need,
but I still felt like I was leaving everything.

I decided to stay in my hometown,
even then it wasn’t close enough.
Promising to be home on the weekends,
even though I’d see her through the week.

I’m so proud of you and I love you.

It's all my mom could say,
her tears kept her quiet.
My mom’s love was an extreme amount,
her tears showed just how much.

I wasn’t under her roof anymore,
and I may not be again.
You’ll always be my baby, she said,
and I hoped I always would.