I thought their separation was too painful.
I thought that the entanglement of these eight years could make our relationship strong enough, but all these assumptions were shattered on the day Carl returned.
That day, I bought the limited edition bag that Alice liked, prepared a sumptuous candlelight dinner, and decanted the wine that I had been collecting for many years.
All of these were just to wait for Alice to come home and celebrate my birthday with me.
It was ridiculous to think about it, but it was indeed the tradition of my birthday every year.
Although it was my birthday, I had to prepare a gift that Alice liked, make her favorite food for her, and wait for her to bring a birthday cake that looked the same every year.
This year on my birthday, I heated up the cold dishes again and again.
Until the clock passed 12 o'clock, Alice hadn't come back.
All the calls I made were hung up.
All the messages I sent were not replied to.
The only message I received that night was from Carl.
It was a photo.
In the photo, Alice was leaning in shirtless Carl's arms.
After receiving the message, I drank all the wine.
Walking in front of the mirror, suddenly I felt like a clown.