Vanity Fair and City II (20)

Earthquakes…It seems that the earth is quaking. First it is Wenchuan, then it is Hayti, then Chile, then Kaohsiung…Which place will be the next?

Back to the real, trifling life.

My former landlord is still distressing about his empty apartments. Not many people rent his apartments so he can’t get the rent, yet he has to pay for his houses. The more houses he has, the more money he has to pay for the bank every month. But now not many people rent his apartments.

Besides this, he is still distressing about his divorce. His wife asks for a divorce, because---

“He considers me as a coat.” His wife, Amy, said.

“When he feels cold, he will put on the coat. When he feels hot, he will throw it off. And I think I am just a coat.” Amy said. Her baby girl was crying on the bed.

“How about the baby?” I asked.

“I will raise her up.” Amy said.

Amy is just three years older than me so we become friends easily. She is lonely in this city as she came here not long ago. Me too. So she always talks to me whenever she has a chance.

“He is selfish.” Amy said. “Sometimes he can be very good to me sometimes he can be very cold. It all depends on his mood. I can not find any respect from him. What’s the difference between me and a coat? I am not a coat and I prefer to choose rather than to be chose.”

Yes, a divorce can solve the problem. But Amy needs courage to take this step. Divorce can be a release in a sense; however, it can bring some bad effects. Not many people want to marry twice in a life.

When they were distressing about these problems, earthquakes happened in those far places. Yes, the earthquakes didn’t do much harm to people here; however, all the annoying problems seem to smash to pieces in front of the great nature.

Imagine, earthquake happened here one day. All the houses, high buildings, skyscrapers collapsed. All of us died. Who would still care about the houses, the rent, and the real estates? Who would still care about “coat”, “selfish”, misunderstanding, quarrels and hatred?

Only those times we were together could linger around your heart. And all the other things, including our lives, would have gone with the wind… for ever.