From what I have heard you can bring it off. It is a very nice piece of prose...with some universal thoughts everyone can relate to..

WRT to your question, If I had stayed, who would I be.....what came to mind was "The Verger",

Great little story...quick read...by Somerset Maugham https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Maugham_The_Verger_0.pdf


If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop