A "Dear John,"

Dear Austin,

You knew we were over. I walked your streets, I ate at Spiderhouse a thousand times, I tried to Keep it Weird (though sometimes my normalcy was enough). I saw your shows, sometimes twice, and I rocked hard at ACL. I Halloweened on Sixth Street, and I laid in your tattoo parlours for hours. But baby, I'm done.

There is more out there that I haven't seen yet. Austin, there are neighborhoods the size of your entire downtown! Not that I'm unhappy with your downtown, Austin, but sometimes a girl wants a bigger one.

I've spent many years here and I've watched best friends move across the state, across the country, and one who could be leaving for the other side of the world. After having received my own Dear John recently, how can you blame me, Austin, for needing a change? You'll always be my first downtown, my first concert, my first apartment... but we're young, too young to be tied to each other forever. I've got to move out, move on, and step it up, baby. I've got to be totally alone for once, lost and lonely, and find my own way back again. I know it's hard, Austin, to see someone leave. And we'll visit each other- my family lives here still so you can bet that I'll be back! But not for Spiderhouse, not for Toy Joy, not even for Buffalo Exchange... I'll be back for the people here who mean so much to me. The people who helped me and made me as strong as I am.

Love,
Jessica