Love is Like the Wind, Love is Gone Without a Trace

But it wasn't until I discovered a pair of worn men's shorts under the passenger seat that I felt ill just thinking about it. I assumed Claudine was just asking casually, but suddenly she was insistent on a response. I said gently, "Nothing, I was just too childish before." On the way, Claudine became hungry and pulled up in front of a restaurant that we both enjoyed. "I want spaghetti. What do you want? Hamburger?" I nodded while I continued to glance at my phone. Claudine tried to talk to me numerous times, but when she saw I wasn't listening, she stopped talking. The dishes were ready and Claudine took the initiative to bring them to me. "Archie, I remember you don't like pickles, so I picked them out for you…" Perhaps since we hadn't seen each other for days, Claudine's tone softened as she tried to get us closer through this meal talk. But I stared at the burger sans a pickle in front of me calmly. I cracked a grin. Even after six years of marriage, I would always top my hamburger with pickles and tomatoes. Her childhood sweetheart, Edgar, was the one who disliked pickles. When she noticed that I remained silent, she got up, went to the dining table and said to the boss, "Please add some pickles for him." Claudine's expression shifted somewhat as she ate spaghetti in shock and appeared to think of something. "I'm sorry, Archie. Look," Claudine said to me, "I've been so busy lately that I forgot and I feel like my brain isn't functioning well. I forgot you ate pickles!" I grinned as I looked at her pathetic acting. On my way back after dining, I went by the junction where I was involved in a car accident. Despite the fact that it had been over six weeks, I still felt a dull aching in my chest when I was thinking about it. After six years of marriage, I still wasn't as good as her childhood sweetheart, whom she hadn't seen in many years. I messaged my lawyer friend, saying, "I'll buy you dinner another day and you help me draft a divorce agreement." Claudine pulled the brakes as her body abruptly pushed forward a little, saying, "We're home." To assist me with my bags, Claudine got out of the car on her own initiative. I went upstairs and responded to the message. The home should have been unoccupied, but as soon as I pulled open the door, I heard an eager footfall. "Claudine, are you home?" Unconsciously, Edgar, still in my pajamas, stood at the entrance and gave the person who entered a hug. His smile stopped when he realized it was me who had entered. "Eh-Archie..." His innocent look made me feel sick. Before I could say anything, Claudine came forward to clarify. "Archie, Edgar's rent has expired and he came to stay at home for a few days..." This wasn't the first time it had happened. Edgar's presence caused us to argue more than once in the past. However, I felt more at ease now that I knew we were going to be divorced. "You guys just do whatever you want." I pushed the corner of my lips back, preparing to pass by him and return to the room, but I was outraged at what I saw in front of me. My belongings were flung out the door. My clothes and computer were stacked like rags at the entryway. Someone with a massive footprint appeared to have purposefully walked on even the suit I treasured the most. It appeared incredibly disorganized and filthy. "What’s happening here?" I said, taking a long breath. Edgar seemed alarmed when he saw my anger. "Claudine, I told you that Archie would not be pleased. What should I do? It's all my fault. Let me just move out..." Claudine comforted him softly with her glances.

Claudine scowled at me and unconsciously shielded Edgar behind me. "My beloved Archie, Edgar will be staying in the master bedroom. Your belongings have nowhere to be put. Just put them in this pile first.” I laughed out of rage. Treating me like a participant in the act was unnecessary. Helplessly, I shook my head and gathered my belongings to carry to the main bedroom. "He can’t stay there, he can go to the guest bedroom." Claudine stopped me before I had taken two steps. "Sundries are everywhere in the guest bedroom. Cleaning things up will take some time. Besides, he can only dwell in a well-lit room because of his bad health. Allow him to use your main bedroom for a few days first and you may sleep in the study for the next few days.” I stared at the woman in front of me in shock at the matter-of-fact tone. Having been married to me for six years and having once knelt before my parents and vowed to love me forever, this person had constantly improved my memory. The home included three bedrooms. Two guest bedrooms and a master suite. During the past two months since I began getting ready for IVF, Claudine took the initiative to relocate to the guest bedroom since she was worried that it might interfere with my sleep. The other room was filled with random objects and had been empty for a while. I couldn't help but scowl as I glanced at the mound of personal stuff next to the entrance. "You've got time to organize my belongings, but you don't have time to tidy the guest bedroom? Why did you bring someone home to reside in the guest bedroom, Claudine, when you knew it wasn't cleaned? He could live at a hotel, right? How could you allow your own spouse to sleep in the study? Claudine stood behind Edgar like a guardian angel, keeping him safe. She scowled when she saw my anger and said, "The hotel is unhygienic, Edgar has been weak since he was a child and he can't get used to sleeping in a strange place. Edgar has been raised with me since he was a little boy, Archie. You are aware of his weakness and illness. But don’t worry, he'll just be here for a few days. I know I've offended you lately; otherwise, you may sleep in the guest bedroom while I sleep in the study." Claudine seemed grave, believing that her approach was the most rational and just one. However, I didn't anticipate being so devastated by her. I scoffed at Edgar, who appeared naive. "You can become accustomed to sleeping in my bed, but you can't get used to staying at an unfamiliar hotel? I was surprised to learn how much Mr. Grant enjoyed stealing other people's belongings. I'll give it to you since you enjoy it." I called the moving company and dumped everything down. Edgar ripped a corner of my clothing to apologize while acting as though he had been mistreated. "I’m sorry, Archie. When I moved in, I didn't think you would be so upset. It is all my fault. I'm going to move out now.” Edgar didn't mean to go when he stated this. He had a really irate face. "Claudine, please don't let me ruin your marriage to your spouse. I was naive this time and assumed he wouldn't mind because we were close friends. I'm to blame. You should coax Archie..." Claudine's expression was troubled as she gazed at the thoughtful Edgar. The more he lowered his posture, the more distressed Claudine was. "You don't have to move out. It's just a master bedroom. I still have the last word.” Claudine gave me a chilly look when she said that. "I own this house, Archie and I get to decide who lives in it. Shouldn't Edgar be allowed to remain for a few more days? Why are you making such a fuss about something that isn't that important?" I gave her a blank stare. She did purchase this house, but she neglected to mention that I had a home before this one.

When Claudine's business was in financial trouble, she gave me a back embrace while wearing a hopeless expression. "Archie, let's sell your house." "When the company is through these difficulties, I will help you buy it back immediately." At first, I claimed I didn't agree and shook my head in refusal. "Don't you have another idea? That house is the pre-marital property my parents left me. I'm not interested in selling it.” Claudine, however, was adamant about selling it and she tried to convince me for six weeks. For the first time, I felt devastated as the strong lady who had always been independent and self-reliant sobbed pathetically with her knees in front of me. So I had to agree. Despite overcoming the company's hurdles, Claudine refused to assist me in reclaiming my home. She always gave me a terse response when I asked about this. "Archie, you should not buy a property right now since it will lose a lot of money. We have a place to live today, don't we? I will not drive you away; this is our home." What a home we had, I smirk now. I waited silently while seated on the couch. Claudine sighed with satisfaction, thinking I had it sorted out. A knock on the door, however, came as a surprise the following second. Claudine was a step ahead of me when I stood up to open the door. "I'll open the door!" Standing at the entrance in his work attire, the moving master gave me and Claudine a perplexed look. "Hello, we are from the moving company. What do you wish to move?" Stunned, Claudine said, "Did you get the wrong address, sir? Noone here wants to move..." I got up and stepped in. "It’s me. Come in, sir." Claudine gave me an incredulous look in return and she grew irritated when she noticed that I had not even given her a glance. "What are you doing, Archie? You just have this one home. Where could you go, even if you moved?" She believed that I had only one residence, I thought. "You are sure that I have nowhere to go just so you can bully me?" I suffocated Claudine with my words. Perhaps she was feeling guilty and her eyes were frigid again as she glanced at me. "What are you saying, Archie? Edgar didn't mention that he would use your main bedroom and he is just here for a few days. Will you please stop causing trouble?" "I'm not making trouble." Without even looking, I assisted the moving worker in expertly packing and sealing my belongings. I had to stop when Claudine kicked my box to bits. Still, I scoffed and allowed the worker to assist me in sealing it. I stared at Claudine calmly, like a wild dog. "Claudine, you will only make me more disappointed by doing this." Claudine's eyes flashed with a hint of terror. She subconsciously moved closer to hug me, "Archie..." Edgar suddenly pretended to slap himself. "Claudine, it's all my fault! If I hadn't insisted on moving in and made things difficult for you, Archie wouldn't be so angry and want to move out!" My hand stopped in mid-air as Claudine tried to embrace it, so she had to turn around and gently nudge her childhood sweetheart. Edgar gave Claudine a friendly glance and purposefully pestered her. I even spotted Edgar's arrogant and suggestive smirk as I looked up. I shook my head and requested the movers to hurry up the procedure. I went downstairs with the mover ten minutes later. Without even changing her slippers, Claudine ran down as soon as she heard the door close.

"Archie, just think about it. Where can you go now?" I paid her no attention. Claudine shattered her phone because she was so furious. "I'm sure you'll return in a few days with a dirty face after making such a fuss!" she scoffed. “I want to see how long you can hold out and return to make peace with me! Edgar, let's go back!" On the way, the mover looked at me sympathetically and asked, "Did you and your wife argue?" I shook my head. "No." The man was taken aback, so I grinned and told him, "We are getting divorced." The man let out a long sigh, looked empathetic and reassured me. "It makes sense; take a look at the man standing behind her. He isn’t a good man. Believe me, you deserve more than to have such a woman in your life.” He made me laugh. All the way to my lawyer friend's place, we joked and chatted. Paula had been waiting for me nearby and she smiled and waved at me as I approached. "Archie, here." I had intended to request that the moving company transport the items straight to the hotel. However, Paula urged me to move in with her after telling me that it would not be wise to reside at the hotel all the time. Just like Claudine had a childhood sweetheart. Paula was my childhood sweetheart. Simply put, I had been married for six years, had never been alone with a friend of the opposite sex and had always avoided close contact with them. There would have to be a third party if I went out to eat. I assumed that everyone kind of embraced this idea of boundaries. Unexpectedly, Claudine had broken it long ago. Now I took a deep breath and got out of the car. With a kind expression, Paula thanked the mover and assisted me in leaving a second-floor bedroom that had great lighting. "Archie, you can live here without worry, as long as you want." "Thank you," I said, looking at Paula with gratitude, "I will pay you the rent according to the market price." Paula gave me a fierce look and said, "What are you paying for? Divorce that scumbag as soon as possible, that's the right thing to do." Since Paula lived in a little villa, the bedroom's lighting was naturally quite cozy. I slept till I awoke on my own. When I walked downstairs after waking up the following day, I saw that Paula had made breakfast. She grinned broadly as she gazed up at me. "Are you awake? Come and take a look." She handed me the divorce papers. "Tell me if there is anything you need to add or delete." "I believe in your ability, it is already very complete," I said, taking a quick look at it and nodding gratifyingly. “Doesn't the property partition ought to be split in half? How come it's 20% for her and 80% for me?” "Claudine cheated on you during marriage and it's already good that she didn't leave the house empty-handed," Paula added, grinning as she sliced steak. I thought she was a great buddy and gave her a thumbs up. I went to the grocery store with Paula after supper. Paula was assisting me in selecting new bedding and everyday essentials. A person suddenly rushed over with aggression. "Archie, no wonder you want to move out, it turns out that you hooked up with another woman?" Claudine's face was filled with fury and her eyes were crimson. She reached up to give me a cheek smack. Paula swiftly took hold of her arm before she reached me and whispered icily, "Calm down, ma’am. It is not a good idea to fight in front of a lawyer.” Claudine looked at me angrily, knowing she couldn't win the fight with Paula. Edgar was behind her, pointing at the items in the shopping cart with a startled expression. "Hey, Archie, you bought new bedding? You can be upset, but you can't live with other women and hook up with them that quickly. Isn't this a direct insult to Claudine? Claudine's eyes were as icy as death as she heard this. Her countenance abruptly shifted as her gaze paused on the unsightly scar my car accident left on my chest. "Archie! What caused your injuries?”