Vanity Fair and City II (23)

The external things can lie without saying a word. Even if we wear a pair of thick eyeglasses, we may be still unable to see the essence thoroughly

Finally, Amy and my former landlord have divorced.

Throughout the whole process of divorce, Amy behaved calmly and strongly. Confidence and determination were written on her smiling face. However, when she made a turn at the corner, her cheeks were wet with tears.

How many of us wear the same masks as Amy’s? Something is hidden in the shadow; no sunshine can ever shine upon there. Things you don’t know, things they don’t know.

And of course, that young university student will be the next wife of my former landlord…

As a young, beautiful lady, what else does she possess except youth and beauty? As times fly by, youth will vanish, so will beauty.

As an inexperienced, unsophisticated girl, she comes as a weak role. Compared to her future husband, she has no cars, no houses, no money, no reliable source of income, perhaps no job in the future. She may think that it is already enough to find a strong husband, as what is popular among universities these years: To find a rich husband is much better than to find a good job.

However, no one can be really strong when they are alone. In fact my former landlord is not so strong. In fact he as a man is scared too. He does always worry about his houses payment, car payment and whether his house can be rent. Only when his next wife is strong can he be really strong.

And only when he is strong can his next wife be really strong. Some women always claim that they are as strong as men. But I guess, without men, women are not really strong.

It is because only when they are strong can we be really strong; only when we are strong can they be really strong. That’s the mutual support, the spiritual pillar, and the inner strength.

And it is this “mutual support”, “spiritual pillar” and this “inner strength” that drive Ivy turn into the moth that flies to the fire… for love.