Like Lena Dunham, I left my hometown. She’ll learn that what drives us away is often what draws us back | Emma Brockes

In John Guare’s reflections on New York, the city becomes a lens through which everything has history—everything. Lena Dunham captures this sentiment vividly in her essay about leaving New York, citing how the city shaped both her experiences and her identity. She compares it to Joan Didion’s famous essay, yet highlights how her move to London symbolized a fresh start. Time felt different there, with years passing like days, leading her to realize she now considers London home. Her writing and observations highlight how attachment to a place can transform its essence over time, leaving behind echoes of memories from decades past.