My point is, that it is not the hometown that makes it a hometown. It is who is in your heart and in your life that is important.
Forgetting 100 percent never said that, but leaving it behind. Yes, it is possible. Learning and growing from that experience is good. Yes, leaving the people behind is best. Sarah is in a new place, with better prospectives and the most important part is with her. Her daughter. That is all that truly matters.

Mud, I'm from a small town in Ontario as well, and I know exactly what you're talking about. It's almost like there are two groups of people, those that stay, and those that go. There isn't much for those who choose to stay, but, getting out is like getting out of jail. It is hard to imagine going back.

When you do go back, people haven't changed. At least that's what I found. Still the same old same old, only people have gotten older.

You have many poor memories, understandably so, and I have to ask you why you subject yourself to doing something you don't want to do, knowing what it will be like, and how uncomfortable you will be. You have to ask yourself, why would you go back, and, what would you rather do with your holiday.

I went back a few years ago to visit the parents of a very good friend of mine that had died, to pay my respects. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Everything looked OK on the outside, but I knew it was like movie props, and just behind them, was a life of welfare, abuse, and people going nowhere.

You are not wrong to break that cycle. People grow apart, and you have little in common with them. I am in touch with a few people, but they too left the town years ago and never went back.

Do what feels right, even if you go one last time, with the intent of never returning. Maybe time to turn the page.

It seems to me that one of the main reasons you want to go back is to prove these people wrong. You have nothing to prove to them. They don't deserve it. They have this power over you because they hurt you. You need to give yourself time to get over that hurt and seek help to do so if need be. Don't value their opinions value your own. They are small-minded and toxic and no matter what you do you won't change their rigid viewpoints, not because of a lack in you but because of a lack in them.

I agree with QLP. Mudweiser already proved she's wiser by moving away from them. She already has proven she's better (because she's moved out -- while they are confined to petty behaviours like the ones mentioned). Forgetting her hometown in the sense that she doesn't let the experience get her down? Certainly possible!
But trying to forget those experiences, and that place? Silly! You can definitely move on from them; which mudweiser already has done.

Thanks QLP for that awesome advice!

Thanks everyone for helping me with this!

Love
Sarah!