The End of a Vacation

It was another Monday morning, and I was just returning to work from my vacation. As I drove through the rain, I listened to a slow and easy song on the radio that reminded me of the last few hours I had spent with Mandy. It had been a year since the last time I saw her, and this time was even better.  I got to spend a whole week with her. We talked, laughed, danced, and I didn't want to leave.  In the short week I had spent with her, I felt like I found my best friend.
                As I arrived to work, I was greeted by my co-workers with the typical greetings: "Welcome back" and "How was the vaca?" I replied with the good old phrases: "Thanks!" and "Great!" About half an hour after arriving, Jackie came to my office to ask about my vacation. She's a sweet lady in her mid-fifties, and she's such a talker!
                "So, Jakey, how was Seattle?" Jackie asked. "Did you have fun? I hear it's quite the dreary place. I hear the weather is terrible."
                "I wouldn't know." I replied. "I barely left the house"
                "House? What house, Jakey?"
                "Oh, I stayed with an old friend. I've told you about her before; It was Mandy."
                "Oh? Did you have a good time?"
                "I did. Mandy was the greatest! We had the best time."
I proceeded to tell Jackie of the amazing time I had with Mandy, and as I did, I noticed a concerned look began to shade Jackie's face.
"You can't move there, kiddo." Jackie said.
I was absolutely shocked!  I had never mentioned moving to Seattle for Mandy to anyone. I paused.
"How… How did you know, Jackie? I never said that…"
"Look, Jakey, I've got three sons. You think I haven't seen that look on one of their faces before? Bottom line is this: You've got a good life here, and a good future. You just can't leave here, at least not yet."
She was right. I couldn't leave. For a short while, I saw the weekend I had with Mandy replay in my head. I saw the two of us talking, laughing, dancing and having fun. I saw my fantasies play over and over again, and slowly dissolve.