La Despedida
(The Farewell)
Laura y Carmen eran amigas desde la infancia.
Laura and Carmen had been friends since childhood.
Crecieron juntas en el mismo barrio, compartieron secretos y sueños durante años.
They grew up together in the same neighborhood, shared secrets and dreams for years.
Pero ahora todo iba a cambiar.
But now everything was going to change.
Carmen había conseguido un trabajo importante en otra ciudad y tenía que mudarse la próxima semana.
Carmen had gotten an important job in another city and had to move next week.
Decidieron pasar su último día juntas visitando todos sus lugares favoritos.
They decided to spend their last day together visiting all their favorite places.
Primero fueron al parque donde jugaban cuando eran niñas.
First they went to the park where they played when they were girls.
Después almorzaron en la cafetería donde pasaban las tardes estudiando.
Then they had lunch at the cafe where they spent afternoons studying.
Caminaron por las calles de su barrio, recordando historias y momentos especiales.
They walked through the streets of their neighborhood, remembering stories and special moments.
Por la tarde, se sentaron en un banco del parque.
In the afternoon, they sat on a park bench.
Laura sacó una pequeña caja de su bolso.
Laura took out a small box from her bag.
Era un collar con dos mitades de un corazón. Tú llevas una mitad y yo llevo la otra, dijo con los ojos húmedos.
It was a necklace with two halves of a heart. 'You wear one half and I wear the other,' she said with moist eyes.
Carmen abrazó a su amiga, sin poder contener las lágrimas.
Carmen hugged her friend, unable to hold back the tears.
Al día siguiente, Laura acompañó a Carmen a la estación de tren.
The next day, Laura accompanied Carmen to the train station.
El andén estaba lleno de gente, pero ellas solo se veían la una a la otra.
The platform was full of people, but they only saw each other.
Antes de subir al tren, Carmen prometió: Vendré a visitarte cada mes, sin falta.
Before getting on the train, Carmen promised: 'I'll come visit you every month, without fail.'
Y yo iré a verte también, respondió Laura, tocando su mitad del collar.
'And I'll go see you too,' Laura responded, touching her half of the necklace.
El tren empezó a moverse lentamente.
The train began to move slowly.
Las dos amigas se miraron por última vez, sabiendo que aunque la distancia las separara, su amistad siempre las mantendría unidas.
The two friends looked at each other for the last time, knowing that although distance would separate them, their friendship would always keep them united.
Key Vocabulary
despedida farewell
infancia childhood
mudarse to move (residence)
barrio neighborhood
almorzaron they had lunch
collar necklace
mitad half
húmedos moist
lágrimas tears
estación station
andén platform
sin falta without fail
distancia distance
unidas united