You disappeared without saying good-bye. Only a glance my way then you were gone. I knew something was about to happen, but not like this.

“Uncle, why all the maps?”

Bilbo looked up from the empty page of his book. He smiled nervously, the edges of his mouth twitching. “Just going over some distances and all. Why don’t you run along, dear boy? I have work to do.”

You gave yourself away, but I didn’t believe you’d leave me behind.

“Sam, can you keep a secret?”

The younger lad sat up from his lying position in the grass. “Any secret of yours is safe with me, Mr. Frodo.”

“I think Bilbo is planning an adventure!” Frodo wore the brightest smile. “Just me and him, or maybe there will be dwarves. Oh, I hope there are dwarves. I just know we’ll see Rivendell and Dale and the Lonely Mountain. What an adventure we’ll have!”

We share the same birthday. I was coming of age, full of hopes and dreams.

“Frodo.” The elder hobbit pulled his nephew aside as the party reared on without ceasing. “I am a selfish hobbit.”

Frodo frowned, his brow creasing. “What are you talking about, Uncle?”

“You were special, my boy. I saw a light in you, but my motives for bringing you to live with me were purely selfish. I was getting lonely and needed an heir. You were all alone at Brandy Hall. You were perfect, as if we were meant for each other.”

“I do believe we were, Uncle Bilbo, and that isn’t being selfish.”

Bilbo sighed, patting his nephew’s shoulder. “You’ll understand.” And he walked away.

How could you leave me to pick up the pieces? You taught me so much, but I still had a lot to learn.

“For the hundredth time, LEAVE!” Frodo yelled as he extracted various relatives from Bag End. He slammed the round door, and peered over at his younger cousin. Both were heaving and exhausted. Merry plopped down on the couch, Frodo following.

“Why would Bilbo leave you with such a mess?” Merry asked, several minutes later.

Frodo snorted. “I do not want to think about it right now.”

Then there was the Ring…

“Keep it secret, keep it safe!”

And Gandalf was gone, another person in his life gone. Frodo stared down at the golden band in his palm. What was so special about it? He knew merely by accident that it could make you disappear. He longed to try it on so many times when it was in Bilbo’s hand.

Now that it was in his, without Bilbo there to snitch it from or even share in the fun, the Ring’s excitement lost its value.

I’m alone now at Bag End. I cannot see how you lived here without anyone for so many years. I walk the dark corridors searching for you, but you’re not here and I’m alone. My parents are gone. You, Uncle, are gone. I cannot change either. I understand what you meant at the party. Sometimes I wonder if you really did care for me, or if I were only here to keep the name alive. I think it’s a little of both. I could follow you, but that is not what you wished for.

I will stay here walking the dark corridors alone.