• Their relationship had been like clockwork. Everything working perfectly, no problem in the machinery, until one small cog broke and the whole thing was ruined. He stood abruptly from the large four-poster bed where he sat, crossing the sparsely decorated room to his oak wardrobe to pull out a luxurious fur coat. He had planned to give it to her for her birthday. Then he put the coat back in the closet. He would donate it tomorrow. After all, it was over now, and there was no use in reminiscing.
    The next day, he walked outside, a pleasant change from the monotony of his Lamborghini. Carrying a box stuffed full of her things, his mind went back to his ex-fiancée. Had that detail not gone wrong, would they be married by now? But no. All clocks eventually failed, be it a rusty lever or a stopped gear. Placing down his box where the Salvation Army volunteers stood, he walked away, relieved to have left behind his last reminders of her. Inspired, he returned home, and wrote a will dedicating his possessions to charity. He felt it was only right to help the homeless with the money he barely used.
    Later, he phoned a friend, Devon. Though they had lost contact over the years, he was sure that Devon would find time to meet him. The phone rang twice before Devon picked up.
    “Hello?”
    His throat was dry. How silly, there was no need to be nervous with Devon, they were old friends! He swallowed. “Hey Devon. It’s me, Jonathan, remember?” he asked.
    The ensuing pause was ominous, and he felt obliged to fill it. “You still there?” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded alone and weak in the deafening silence.
    “What do you want?” he flinched at Devon’s new tone.
    “I just want to catch up with you. Ya know, go out, get a few beers? How’s your girlfriend? Maria, right?”
    “She left me.”
    Devon was talking with a mouth full of lead, and every word weighed down Jonathan’s hopes of reconciling with his old friend.
    He fidgeted. “Oh.”
    A sigh came from the other end. “Look, Jonathan, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’ll go this once to give you a chance to explain yourself.”
    He felt his heartbeat quicken. “This Friday, then. I promise you won’t regret it.”

    They sat in a smoky, expensive, French restaurant. Jonathan had never really liked it, but recalled that Devon enjoyed escargot. Neither man was willing to instigate the conversation, one for fear of the other’s anger, and one for fear of losing composure. The tension grew while they waited for the other to break the silence.
    Devon caved and spoke first. “Start talking. Why did you want to see me?”
    “Do I need a reason to see a good friend?” he shot back in defense.
    “Jonathan, good friends don’t abandon each other for a girl! You haven’t talked to me in the past three years! Every time I called you, you were busy, you were working, you were taking Julie out to dinner. Sure, I was happy for you and Julie at first and gave you space, but after a while I realized I was being ignored. Hell, you didn’t even know Maria dumped me! That shows how good a friend you are.” Devon fumed.
    He fumbled with his wrist. “Here, take this.”
    Devon stared at him, incredulous. “You think you can buy my friendship back with a Rolex? And wasn’t this from your late father? The hell is wrong with you?”
    “I don’t want it anymore,” he answered quietly.
    “So you can just bribe me with it?” Devon raged. “That’s what you did to Julie. You never gave her love, just expensive things. Most people aren’t materialistic like you. Well, I hope you’re happy with that golddigger, you deserve her.” He turned to leave.
    “Wait!” Jonathan panicked. “Julie and I cancelled our engagement!” he sought forgiveness through pity.
    “Deal with it!” Devon seethed. “That’s what I did when Maria left me and nobody was there for me. Keep the watch, and take this for the check.” He threw a few bills at Jonathan. For a parting blow, he hissed, “I owe you nothing.”
    Jonathan gazed at the Rolex. He had always been a solitary man. Friends like Devon weren’t necessary to him. He left the watch on the table and didn’t look back.
    The next time he went outside of his house was to go shopping at the local pharmacy. The pills he now needed every night were almost finished. His eyes widened as he saw Julie walking with another man. She was smiling, and had a gentle hand linked with the other man’s. They walked his way, and he ducked into an aisle. He glanced into a mirror that was on sale, and saw his reflection for the first time in weeks. He didn’t keep mirrors in his house; they only served to remind him that he was alone in the entire mansion. His brown hair looked like it had been slathered with oil, and he had dark circles under his dull blue eyes. He ran a hand across his stubble-encrusted chin. He’d been too lazy to shave since his encounter with Devon. After all, he liked his solitude, and one of the benefits of living alone was that there was nobody to nag about his appearance.
    The couple turned into the same aisle, oblivious to his watchful gaze. He straightened up and greeted her, but she passed right by, ignoring him. He supposed Devon had been right about her. Like a parasite, he vaguely thought. Draining as much money from one man before discarding him and moving to the next. His life would be better without her demanding requests.
    After a week of enjoying the tranquil silence in his mansion had gone by, he decided to go fishing. It was a quiet, peaceful sport that required no companion to disturb his solitude. After all, he liked his solitude. Renting a small cabin near a lake for a few days, he figured it was time he enjoyed the outdoors without noisy interruptions. The days went by, one melting into the other. One day he caught a particularly large bass. He turned to brag to someone about his catch, but immediately realized that he was alone on this vacation, and that he was here to enjoy his time alone. He found his mind drifting back to Julie and Devon, but pushed those thoughts aside. They had both been distractions from true happiness: a life of quiet solitude and contentment.
    On the last day of his retreat, it rained, and he could not go out fishing. Sitting idly on a couch, he flipped through a few channels on the tiny black and white television that the cabin had. More than ever, he kept thinking of Julie and her adoring demeanor towards him.
    “I don’t need her!” he growled out loud. “She used me. Without her, I am happier than ever!”
    Wrenching open the refrigerator, he pulled out a case of beer he’d brought. Maybe it would take his mind off of her. Countless cans later, the tears he suppressed came falling down. Who had he been fooling? Himself? Perhaps he had just been clinging to whatever remnant of his pride he thought he had left. He’d loved Julie, and without her, his life was a mess. She’d blinded him and his friends all hated him now. Drunkenly, he lurched out into the pouring rain with a set intent in his mind.
    The next morning, the sun shone on him, swaying in the wind with tree he dangled from.