Dreams Tend to Turn Out This Way
by Beau Cameron
“This isn’t easy for me either, you know.”
I felt her scowl more than saw it. “That’s the thing Park, it is easy for you. All you have to do is say no.”
“And turn down my dream job?”
“Since when is this your dream job?”
“Since always, Jane!”
Her hands were planted firmly on her hips in stubborn determination-- an effect that was somewhat ruined by her smeared makeup and towel-wrapped hair. “You also always said that your dream was to live in Manhattan.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“So you just pick and choose what matters now?”
“Living here isn’t as important as my career!”
The ensuing silence was heavy between us. “You mean I’m not as important.”
“That’s not what I--”
“Yes it is.” When she looked at me again, her eyes brimmed with tears. “You think that flying off to Seattle and working in some fancy law firm is going to make you happy. Well it’s not. You wanna know why?”
“Jane--”
The tears fell freely now, despite her cold tone. “Because you’ll never be happy, Park. You have this version of yourself in your head that you'll never be, along with a perfect life that I'm not a part of.”
“That’s not--” I caught myself before I could respond. It wasn’t worth it. “I don’t care what you say Jane. I’m taking the job.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sure you are.” She turned away. “Now get out of my apartment.”
I felt her scowl more than saw it. “That’s the thing Park, it is easy for you. All you have to do is say no.”
“And turn down my dream job?”
“Since when is this your dream job?”
“Since always, Jane!”
Her hands were planted firmly on her hips in stubborn determination-- an effect that was somewhat ruined by her smeared makeup and towel-wrapped hair. “You also always said that your dream was to live in Manhattan.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“So you just pick and choose what matters now?”
“Living here isn’t as important as my career!”
The ensuing silence was heavy between us. “You mean I’m not as important.”
“That’s not what I--”
“Yes it is.” When she looked at me again, her eyes brimmed with tears. “You think that flying off to Seattle and working in some fancy law firm is going to make you happy. Well it’s not. You wanna know why?”
“Jane--”
The tears fell freely now, despite her cold tone. “Because you’ll never be happy, Park. You have this version of yourself in your head that you'll never be, along with a perfect life that I'm not a part of.”
“That’s not--” I caught myself before I could respond. It wasn’t worth it. “I don’t care what you say Jane. I’m taking the job.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sure you are.” She turned away. “Now get out of my apartment.”