Writing Prompt Wednesday #22

Your character's things are packed up and they are ready to leave town tomorrow. Before they say goodbye to their town, they decide to stop by at their favorite bar just to say goodbye. Something that happens at the bar makes them question whether or not leaving is the right decision. https://www.servicescape.com/blog/301-short-story-ideas-guaranteed-to-kick-your-writing-into-high-gear
    Marcie slung her messenger bag over her shoulder as she loaded the last of her things into her car. She looked out over the neighborhood-her childhood home on the street where she had grown up. She sighed sadly, then shook her head. She was going to the city to make it big as a journalist. She didn’t need some stupid childhood home. That’s what she told herself as she she got into the driver’s seat of her car and drove to the Atlantis Bar.
    Marcie had worked at the bar for the past two years, making enough money for her move. She’d grown really close with the manager and her coworkers and they’d made her promise to come say goodbye.
    She made her way up to the front and opened the door. The bar was nearly empty-as it was the morning. Her best friend-Gia-was wiping down the bar counter. Marcie almost started crying just seeing her. Gia looked up and waved. “Came to say goodbye?”

 “Yeah,” Marcie said, looking around the bar. “I’m going to miss this place for sure.”
    “It’ll miss you,” Gia said. “Do you want me to go grab Mr. Houston?”
    “Sure,” Marcie said. She sighed as Gia left to go to the back room. 
    Within a few seconds, another familiar face appeared-but it wasn’t Mr. Houston. “Gia did you-” he trailed off, catching sight of Marcie. “Marcie, I-I didn’t know you were coming here.”
    “Yeah, I, uh, came to say goodbye,” Marice said, her voice catching in her throat as it always did when she was around Jake.
    “Oh Marcie,” he said, coming behind the counter to give her a hug. She was very aware of his hands on her back. “You’re going to make me cry.”
    “No, don’t cry,” she said, pulling away. “It’s okay, you’ll find other people. Soon you won’t even remember me.”
    “You couldn’t be more wrong about that,” Jake sighed. “Why do you have to go, anyways?”
    “I’m going to New York City to become a journalist.”
    “Why can’t you be a journalist here?” Jake asked.
    “You know I can’t do that, Jake,” Marcie said. “It’s just not the same. This...This has been my dream since I was 12 years old. I can’t just throw it away just because I love all of you guys.”
    “I know,” Jake sighed. “I know. I just...wish you could stay for a bit longer.”
    “I do too.” For a moment, Marcie allowed herself to imagine what life would be like if she stayed here. It would be great-she could buy the little gray house across the street that was always her favorite. She could keep working at the bar until she eventually got promoted to manager when Mr. Houston retired (they all knew Marcie was his favorite). She could stay here with Jake and they could have a family together. She could raise her kids so they could go to the same school as she did-have the same amazing childhood that she was blessed with. It’d be perfect.
    But, in her heart, she knew that if she led this life she’d never be happy. Marcie was a writer in her soul-and no amount of love or nostalgia could change that fact. If she stayed here...she’d never fulfill her destiny and that would haunt her for her whole life.
    Tears sprung at her eyes. “But I can’t,” she whispered. She stood up straighter-trying to not look Jake in the eye because it hurt that much more. “I have to go. Tell Mr. Houston that I said goodbye and thank you.” She turned and ran out of the bar before she could doubt herself further. 
In her car, she allowed the tears to flow freely. But she started up the engine and drove away from her little town. She didn’t look back, because she knew that if she did, she’d never keep going.