Today, on my way to school, I stopped at work to pick up my severence check. I am 25 years old and I'm getting a severence check because I was laid off. Crazy, no? I walked into my restaurant and found boxes and boxes piled on each other. The bar was empty and clean. The managers and a few others were there, cleaning and drinking beer and joking around. Carlos, who I mentioned in my last entry, sees me and walks over to me. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to him the night before, because whenever I started he'd tell me to get out of his face and do some work. Typical Carlos. Without hesitation Carlos enveloped me in a huge hug and said, "I'm going to miss you so much. I thought I didn't get a chance to say good-bye." It was brief, but it overwhelmed me with emotion. For Carlos to drop all pretense, all barriers, and do that, made it sink in. I'm never going back. It will never be the same.

OK, so I am going back. Tomorrow we're all spending one last night at work, having a party of sorts. A farewell.

But it will never be the same.