I am happy to report that I have stuck to my word and have not returned to the restaurant, nor have I attempted to reach out to anyone in an attempt to form a connection with my past (if that makes sense).

Recently I had a few drinks at another local bar, and the men that I were talking to said that they noticed that I seemed distracted. In fact, I was actually thinking about what went on at the restaurant. I told them what happened making sure to state facts and not evaluative opinions; it turns out that the three of them are frequents at my former workplace and have been friends/known my boss for many many years. One of these men looked me up on Facebook and sent me a friends request on Sunday, which is the day that they usually spend the most time there (not aware of this since I didn't work that day) - so I'm wondering if they were there...

However, I am also friends with two people that currently work there (I was friends with them before; the one they hired since he was my friend and I told them about him when I put in my two weeks notice). The guy friend went into work today and saw that he was only scheduled to work today, and that the two other days that he works they have him down as requesting off. He did not request off. He asked the other manager (not the one that I had my problems with) and he said that the guy friend (who is employee that took my place) will know what's going on when he talks to the other manager (the one I had problems with) when they see each other next. A coworker told the guy friend that he can't say anything about what it's about but that when he does have the talk with the other manager that he'll know what friend this involves too. Luckily, the friend (current worker) started a new full-time job this week and was only working there nights three times per week.

The other employee that I talk to there (knew long before working there) said that she overheard a female bartender say something about me to which another bartender yelled loudly that he hopes I never show my face again in that restaurant because he wants to punch me in the face.

In addition, I am hearing that the gossip going around to my former coworkers and the frequents at the restaurant/bar is that the reason I haven't been in for such a long time is because of my behavior; that I was so bad that the employees had to gather me and escort me out of the restaurant and for this I'm no longer allowed back in. None of that is true.

I believe that the manager I had issues with and some of the employees may be insecure in the workplace, and that to cover up for their deficiencies (like how the manager I had issues with treated me those two days) that they are setting out to sabotage me/set me up for failure. I'm not able to defend myself against them, to voice my side of things to the patrons or workers, etc. I feel like I'm being the one made out to be the bad guy.

I'm not sure I know how to handle this situation now... I feel like the s--- has hit the fan and been flung everywhere... where do I start to clean u p this mess? How do I clean it up? I feel a bit overwhelmed by it now, and I wish that I could just make everything better. That it would just go away... but it's not. and that makes me depressed.