[It's about what Rue expected Casey to be feeling right now, but they can't help the small pride that swells up within them that he can name so many of his current emotions outright. As overwhelming as this all may feel, he is not drowning too far deep into his feelings that he can't recognize one from the other.

That is so very important.]

But you got to say goodbye.

[Gently, always, Rue's paw presses over Casey's hand against his chest, holding it to his heart.

To have a new goodbye with Leo, something still sad, yes, but warm and full of reminders of love, instead of the original goodbye he had to carry around for so long. This one will help to replace the old, so that Casey's final reminder of his sensei will be of how happy the turtle was that he had found so much shining happiness in this new life.]

To have that chance after all of this time, I can't imagine how that might have felt for you.