Mr.Brightside

Chapter 70

Clara's Crossroads

The streets of New York were as alive as ever, bustling with energy and possibility, but my mind was far from the vibrancy around me. The offer for the residency extension hung over me like a cloud I couldn't escape. Everyone here told me how incredible it was—how rare it was to be offered such an opportunity—but all I could think about was Jack. I missed him in ways I hadn't even imagined I could. His presence, his steady calm, the way we didn't have to fill every silence. And now, standing at this crossroads, I was torn between the future I had worked so hard to build and the life I craved with him.

I wandered into a café, needing a break from the noise of the city. The barista greeted me with a smile, and I ordered something warm, hoping it would settle the unease swirling inside me. As I waited, I pulled out my phone and reread the message from the program director. It was formal, congratulatory, but it was also a clear push to make a decision.

Three more months. It seemed like a small extension, a blink in the grand scheme of life, but it felt enormous. Jack had told me that he would support whatever I chose, but I couldn't help wondering if my staying would be the tipping point for us. Would we grow apart, no matter how hard we tried to stay connected?

I scrolled through my photos, stopping at one of the two of us from the last time he visited. We were laughing, leaning into each other as if we were one unit. That's what I wanted. That feeling, that connection. But did wanting that mean I had to leave behind everything I had built here?

The coffee arrived, and I took a sip, trying to center myself. I had faced hard decisions before, but this one felt different. This one wasn't just about me—it was about us. And that was a weight I wasn't used to carrying.

The Weight of Ambition

I had always known ambition would be part of my life. From the moment I decided to become an artist, I knew there would be sacrifices. But I hadn't imagined the kind of sacrifice that would mean potentially stepping away from Jack. Every time I spoke to him, I could hear the support in his voice, but I could also hear something else—a distance, a kind of acceptance that scared me. He was okay with me staying, but I wasn't sure if I was.

In New York, my career was blooming in ways I hadn't anticipated. I was surrounded by artists who inspired me, mentors who pushed me, opportunities I had only dreamed about. But for every moment of success, there was a part of me that longed to share it with Jack, to go home and tell him in person, to see his face when I talked about my day.

I hadn't admitted it to anyone, but part of me was already craving the life we had built back home. The quiet mornings together, the rhythm of our days, the way we complemented each other. There was something real and grounding in that life that the fast pace of New York couldn't replicate.

Still, the fear lingered. If I left now, would I be giving up too soon? Would I regret walking away from the city that had given me so much in such a short time?

A Call for Clarity

I dialed Jack's number without thinking. Hearing his voice was the only thing that could calm the storm in my mind.

"Hey," he answered, his voice immediately softening the tension in my chest.

"Hey," I said, my voice quieter than usual. "Do you have a minute?"

"For you? Always," he replied.

I could picture him in the workshop, hands probably covered in sawdust, maybe leaning against one of his projects. That image alone brought a sense of peace.

"I've been thinking about the extension," I started, biting my lip as I tried to find the right words. "I... I don't know what to do, Jack. Everyone here keeps telling me how big of a deal it is, and I know it is, but..." I trailed off, struggling to put the rest into words.

"But you're not sure if you want it," he finished for me. There was no judgment in his voice, just understanding.

"Yeah," I whispered. "I miss you. I miss us. And I don't know if staying here is worth losing that."

Jack was quiet for a moment, and I could hear him thinking, measuring his words. When he spoke, his voice was steady, reassuring. "Clara, I don't want you to make this decision out of fear. If staying in New York is what's best for you, then do it. I'll still be here when you get back, whether it's in three months or six."

"But what if I stay, and it's too much for us?" I asked, my throat tightening with the fear I hadn't yet voiced.

Jack sighed softly, and I could feel his honesty even through the phone. "Clara, I can't promise that everything will be easy. But what I can promise is that I'm not going anywhere. We've been through worse, and we've made it work. This is just another chapter."

I smiled despite myself, feeling the knot in my stomach loosen just a bit. "How do you always know what to say?"

"I don't," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "But I do know that whatever you decide, we'll figure it out together."

The Turning Point

After we hung up, I sat there, sipping my now lukewarm coffee, staring out the window at the rush of people outside. Jack's words echoed in my head—this was just another chapter.

Maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn't about choosing between New York and him. Maybe it was about figuring out how both could coexist. I didn't have to be defined by one place or one decision. I could make room for both my ambition and my love for Jack. It wouldn't be easy, but it didn't have to be all or nothing.

With a renewed sense of clarity, I stood up and walked out of the café, the decision settling in my chest. I pulled out my phone and drafted an email to the program director, thanking them for the offer but turning down the extension. It felt like the right choice, the one I could live with.

New York had given me so much, but it wasn't where my heart was.

Jack was my home, and I was ready to return to him—to our life, to whatever came next for both of us.

As I hit send, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I wasn't walking away from my career, but I was choosing to nurture the life we had started building together. And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.

The Flight Home

Two days later, I was on a flight back to the city where Jack waited for me. I stared out the window, watching the clouds pass by, feeling both nervous and excited. New York had changed me, but I wasn't afraid of that anymore. I was stronger, more certain of who I was and what I wanted.

And more than anything, I knew I wanted Jack by my side, no matter what path my career took next.

When I landed, I saw him standing by the arrivals gate, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, his familiar grin spreading across his face as soon as he saw me.

I ran to him, throwing my arms around him, feeling the warmth of his embrace melt away any lingering doubts.

"Welcome home," he whispered into my hair, and for the first time in a long time, I truly felt like I was.

Whatever came next, we'd face it together.