This story was an exercise in revealing character through dialogue. The lack of context is intentional, so I’m not going to add any; instead I’m just going to let you enjoy it as it is, and interpret it as you will.
“Look at the mountains! I wish we could work out here, instead of inside. Man, that overlook never gets old.”
“You’ll see it again soon, Sam.”
“I know. I just can’t believe management is giving us so much time off!”
“Enjoy it while it lasts, eh? Good night, and safe travels!”
“Good night, Jack. I’ll see you in a few weeks!”
“Jack! There you are!”
“Kristin.”
“This view really is brilliant, you know.”
“It’s been there for years.”
“I know. I suppose I’m just delaying the inevitable.”
“Don’t bother.”
“I guess this is goodbye, then?”
“Goodbye.”
“You know that I have to go, right?”
“I know you’ve convinced yourself of that.”
“What would I do if I were to stay here, Jack? Spend the rest of my days doing mindless, joyless work? And the world would be none the better for it. I would be none the better for it.”
“It could be, you could be! You’re one of the best of us and you’re throwing it away!”
“It doesn’t help anything to stay! I don’t even have to think when I’m working, I just act! How is that going to help me improve? I would be wasting so much time and potential to stay here! And … and I can’t do that Jack, you know I can’t. You said it yourself, I’m good at this. Imagine how much I could do out there! How many people I could help! This isn’t just my escape, it’s my moral obligation. I have to go.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
“Jack…”
“You want to go live a glorious, adventure-filled life, you go and do that! We’ll be here going through the standard channels. We all know the only thing you ever liked about this place was the view anyways.”
“You know full well that’s not the case. The only reason I’ve stuck around this long is because I didn’t want to say goodbye.”
“Got over that, did you?”
“Not really. But I accepted that I had to. For the closure.”
“Good for you.”
“So much for that… well, I have to leave, closure or no. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime, Jack. I hope that by then we’ll be on better terms.”
“Goodbye, Kristin.”
“Goodbye, Jack.”
