“Here’s the dress! Are you implying I threw it away?” Lucy exclaimed as she opened the dustbin, her expression shifting dramatically.
Lucy asked herself the same question almost every day, a question she couldn’t quite answer: what did she see in Mark?
To look at him, Mark was rather nondescript; he was the sort of ‘prince’ Lucy would be embarrassed to introduce to her friends, so they all believed she still lived alone.
Lucy’s little secret was only known to her sister, who kept it under wraps.
Mark wasn’t reaching for the stars either; he worked as a mechanic at a steel plant.
Occasionally, while Lucy was at home watching TV, she would catch herself thinking it was time to end things with Mark.
Yet, as soon as she prepared to break it off, Mark would show up with a bouquet or some other token, causing her to indefinitely postpone the breakup.
Before meeting Lucy, Mark had already been married. That marriage lasted just two months and resulted in a pregnancy which gave him a daughter.
When he met Lucy, his daughter was twelve. Until recently, Lucy had neither seen nor wanted to meet Mark’s daughter.
The chance presented itself on the eve of her birthday, which she intended to celebrate with friends.
“Lucy,” Mark said, shuffling his feet sheepishly, “my ex-wife is flying out for work, and she’s asked me to take our daughter for a bit…”
“For how long?” Lucy queried, not at all thrilled at receiving such a ‘gift’ for her birthday.
“A month…”
“Why so long?” Lucy frowned. “I hope she understands her daughter needs feeding. On what budget, exactly?”
“If you mean money, she hasn’t sent any,” Mark said, throwing his hands up in defeat.
“As far as I know, you’re still paying her child support. So essentially, she gets to enjoy the money while the girl stays with us for a whole month?”
“There isn’t much to splurge on, you know my salary,” Mark smiled wryly.
“How do you even plan on having her stay here?” Lucy’s frustration was growing, as she realized she didn’t want someone else’s child around for that long. “She’ll need taking to school, watching over. Why take on this responsibility?”
“Well, I am Sophie’s dad,” Mark replied, puzzled. “Do you think I should refuse?”
“Firstly, remember you’re not living alone. Secondly, this is my flat, you should have asked me first. Third, it’s my birthday and I don’t want it ruined!” Lucy proclaimed with authority.
“I doubt my daughter would spoil anything,” Mark said, embarrassed, sensing his fault.
“And I am quite certain things won’t go to plan,” Lucy crossed her arms defiantly.
Yet Mark reassured her that there was no reason to set herself up for disappointment.
The next day, a chubby-cheeked girl with bright makeup showed up at Lucy’s flat, someone who could easily be mistaken for sixteen.
She glanced disdainfully at Lucy, ignoring her, and turned to her father, “Where’s my room?”
“You’ll have to sleep in the kitchen,” Mark managed a strained smile.
The girl rolled her eyes, dashed to the bathroom, and burst into tears.
“What was that?” Lucy asked irritably. “Such a brat, so rude. Luckily, I’ve chosen to celebrate my birthday at a café. By the way, you’re not coming along.”
“Why?” Mark asked, surprised. “I thought you’d finally introduce me to your friends. After all, we’ve lived together for over six months…”
“You’ll be with your child,” Lucy justified quickly, relieved she didn’t have to present Mark to friends whose partners were sporty and fit.
“I see,” Mark said, hurt and said no more.
Lucy’s birthday began with worries and busyness.
Early in the morning, she ironed her cocktail dress and hung it in anticipation of the evening.
Mark remained silent; he didn’t even wish Lucy a happy birthday.
Determined not to let it ruin her mood, Lucy pretended not to notice his sulking.
After work, she went home to change, only to find her dress missing in horror.
“Where’s my dress?” Lucy stormed into the kitchen, where Sophie lay sprawled on the makeshift bed.
Ignoring Lucy, Sophie picked up her phone and began scrolling aimlessly.
“Do you hear me?” Lucy snapped, grabbing the phone from her hands.
“Give it back!” Sophie screamed as Mark burst into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Mark asked, wide-eyed. “Return the phone!”
“Where’s my dress?” Lucy’s jaw clenched.
“I didn’t take anything,” Sophie squinted disdainfully. “She’s just being ridiculous because she doesn’t like me!”
“Return the phone, you heard her,” Mark demanded sternly.
“Sure, she’ll admit to it!” Lucy threw her hands up and hurled the phone to the floor.
The screen cracked on impact, and Sophie wept bitterly as Lucy left the room proudly.
With little time left, she had to find another outfit to wear for her celebration at the café.
Grabbing the first thing that seemed suitable, Lucy dressed and went off to enjoy her birthday.
That night, Lucy finally found distraction and resolved to break up with Mark.
She returned home in the early hours. Hearing her, Mark rose from bed.
“Do you know the time?”
“Are you trying to play the role of a strict husband? Sorry, you’re too late. I’ve decided we’re through,” Lucy announced simply. “You both need to move out in the morning.”
“So now I’m to blame after everything?” Lucy laughed.
“You broke Sophie’s phone…”
“She took my dress!” Lucy gritted her teeth.
“My daughter didn’t take it!” Mark’s eyes flared. “I’d stake anything on that!”
Lucy made a face, waving off his words, refusing to listen to his excuses.
Trying to calm herself, she reached for a bottle of wine from the cupboard.
After taking a sip, she unexpectedly spat it out, looking disgusted.
“What is this? Shampoo? You’re suggesting I put it in there too?” Lucy laughed cynically, opening the dustbin in disbelief. “Here’s the dress! Are you saying I threw it there?”
“You just found a reason to dump me! I knew you wanted to for ages!” Mark burst out. “If it weren’t for me, you’d have done it ages ago!”
Lucy raised her eyebrows, stunned. She remembered those moments well.
“I set up a listening device. I heard all your talks with your sister about me, I knew everything!” Mark declared smugly.
“Well, well! No wonder you knew every time I wanted to break up!” Lucy exclaimed, recalling all those conversations with her sister, friends, and parents. “Let’s say our goodbyes!”
This time, Mark didn’t try to convince Lucy not to end things. He understood well enough that their relationship’s logical end had come.
