Stay for Me

Lara’s quiet Sunday afternoon at a Chicago bar takes an unexpected turn when some strangers confidently sits at her table and introduces themselves as her soulmate. Amused but uninterested, she brushes off the encounters, only to be approached again and again by another people. It is strange pattern and although Lara isn’t searching for romance, the playful exchanges spark laughter and curiosity about fate and connection.

As Lara reflects on her life in the U.S. and her upcoming move back to Italy, nostalgia washes over her. The bar, once a symbol of new beginnings, now marks the end of a chapter filled with challenges and growth. She feels a bittersweet ache, knowing she is leaving behind not just a city but also a version of herself shaped by her experiences. The weight of the past few years settles on her shoulders as she prepares to say her final goodbyes.

Just as she is about to leave, fate throws her a final surprise—Charlie, her first love in America, walks through the door. Seeing him after years of silence is unexpectedly comforting rather than painful, and without hesitation, she embraces him. The conversation flows naturally, and when Lara impulsively invites Charlie to join her, he accepts without hesitation. In that moment, she realizes that maybe, just maybe, some goodbyes don’t have to be final.