The common theme touched upon both in the letter and the short story excerpt is:
A. the difficulty of saying goodbye.
In both texts, the characters experience an emotional connection with their farewells. In the excerpt from "Young Goodman Brown," Goodman Brown has a meaningful exchange with his wife, Faith, as they say goodbye, highlighting the emotional weight of parting. Similarly, in the letter, the writer expresses a strong need for acknowledgment and affection during farewells, indicating that a simple goodbye carries significant emotional importance for her.