Should I Reunite with Former Colleagues? A Lunchtime Conundrum

Photo by Elevate on Unsplash

Yesterday, I found myself breaking bread with a few familiar faces — former colleagues from the company I left a staggering four years ago. Let’s just say my departure wasn’t exactly a victory lap. “Pushed out” would be a more accurate description, fueled by a disagreement with upper management. Despite the less than ideal exit, I genuinely enjoyed most of the people at that company. So, when they suggested lunch, I figured, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Turns out, the worst wasn’t on the menu. Lunch was a whirlwind of nostalgia. We roared with laughter reliving that insane project where Sarah somehow pulled an all-nighter fueled by jellybeans and sheer willpower, saving the client presentation. We groaned good-naturedly about that one boss who had an uncanny knack for scheduling meetings right before lunch. It felt good to reminisce about the camaraderie, the shared struggles and triumphs.

But then came the not-so-rosy memories. We tiptoed around the reason for my departure, the elephant in the conference room we used to call a break room. There were a few pointed glances and a couple of uncomfortable silences. One colleague, bless her heart, even blurted out, “Man, things got crazy after you left!” It was a reminder that while I’d happily moved on, that chapter of my career wasn’t quite as closed for…