Distressed and annoyed he came home, he buzzed the gate electrode and the gate was steadily opened.

He drove through the driveway to the front of the main building, his eyes sure saw the least he expected.

“Dorcas, what is the meaning of this? Why is all this here?!” He questioned, after parking the car.

Just like every other person she saw him as a futile being and neglected him. She hissed and walked into the house, and the mother-in-law stepped outside.

“Don't shout at her pervert! What are you doing here again? You decided your fate by harassing me in the hospital earlier. Do you think I won't take action? You're screwed. I also got a call from my husband, you worthless gord! Is this how to treat your helpers?” She smeared at him.

Joshua ran his hands through his face, the taunting he was receiving was enough to have him lose a rib.

“I didn't mean—” He wanted to say but was interrupted.

“Of course, I expected that from you, with all your filthy silly excuses, let's see who will help now. Not even your juju.” She latched venomously.

The maid walked out and dumped the luggage. Enticed, she folded her hand to her chest. Joshua was a maggot before her. 

He felt hopeless, he had done nothing but help in all ways he could, but the more he tried the harder it became for him, Mrs Bridget hated him the more.

“Get out, maggot.” She hissed. Her hands brushed on the glass frame before finally reaching for the knob and shutting it behind her.

He watched her, saddened at his own rejection. He had nowhere to go with all his luggage. She was so kind enough to let the butler help him out of the house.

“When is Pamela coming home?” He asked as he looked over his shoulder, thinking that maybe a miracle would happen but the stone-hearted woman never minds him.

He threw his bag at his face and locked the gate at him.

The butler returned inside murmuring, “he should get himself something to do, even when I was his age I never relied on my wife. Happily pathetic and lazy…" 

Joshua stood there unclear of what to do, the night was already blowing harsh cold towards him and he didn't see the lingering light of Pamela's car.

He dejectedly strolled the estate with his luggage like a strayed animal, he found himself in a space-demarcated area and decided to spend the night before any other thing should take place tomorrow or maybe he will try to ring Pamela up so maybe she could help him. But then he felt shy to even ask her for anything.

*****

He woke up to a busy morning on the street, and after a rumbling stomach, for two days, he decided to finally reach out, with his back aching. He tried calling Pamela but his phone went flat, 

“SHIT!!!” He cried out, almost hitting it on the wall.

"What the fuck! Is this a curse?"

"I'm I cursed?"

He groaned, pulling over his black hoodie and walked to South Cambie, fortunately, it was not too far.

“Is Pamela in?” He asked the Secretary who was staring at him lewdly.

'How shameless! He should be glad I'm in a good mood today.'

"Did you sleep in the garbage or sewer? HEAVEN! Shift to that edge." She waved her hand.

Was it terrible? He managed a change of clothes.

“Ring her up for me.” He insisted without minding how useless and disgusting the woman was looking at him.

“You've got some family problem, eh?” her hand still held to her nose. 'He smells like rotten food.'

The door clicked open and Pamela walked out, her gaze met his. She expressed disgust too.

Her eyes were with unconcealed frustration, dismay and disgust she felt for him.

“What are you doing here? You reek as…” her face twitched.

“Can we talk somewhere more private? My dogs are barking." 

“Let's get it done here right now. You also want to make me puke.”

“Well I guess I haven't taken bath in days ”

“If you don't want to, you can just go back. And what is with the bath?” She said with ennui.

That he had lived his life like this as a hopeless man when his net worth was a million times more than their own, was unbelievable.

Damn! Damn the allegations and every fucking bank!

From the side, the workers watched them and those that happened to have come across them giggled.

"What happened? Was there no soap at home?"

Pamela hadn't been home in two days now.

"Your mother chased me out of the house.”

They could not help being astounded by his declaration but soon broke into a peal of loud laughter as if it is the funniest thing they have ever heard.

"Has he come to complain?"

“Haha, I must have misheard, what a hopeless man without a single penny, a scoundrel like him got kicked out and first thing in the morning he came in reporting!  And he has the balls to stand in front of her.”

“He is truly delusional, if I were her I would kick him out too, what a lazy toad.”

"The mother-in-law should stand her ground."

“Pamela is beautiful and hardworking. It is truly saddening that she married a fool like him.”

"A total fool amounts together inside him."

Everyone mocked Joshua and their remarks were like a thorn in his ears, sharp and pungent.

Meanwhile, Pamela looked at him, the truth was that she was unmuffled by his speech, on the contrary, she was more disappointed and disgraced than she has ever been.

“Please say something, Pamela.” He tucked her arm, but the gaze she threw at him was enough to set blazing his whole textile.

He wouldn't have come but like a rabbit, a situation dire has forced him to run in the day. In the past, he used to lodge at a five-star hotel however this was no longer the case and all he could now was stalk Pamela.

“I promise I will get something done. Just give me one week, Pam, tell them something. Anything. Please.” Joshua could not conceal the guilt he felt when saying it and she could feel it in his tone.

“That's enough! Enough already.” She yelled, and the workers whose ears were perched heard her thunderous voice sending waves vibrating in their ears.

“Pam—”

She didn't talk, no more wallowing.  “You should be ashamed to come this early simply because you were chased out. I've not looked down on you for the past five years of our marriage. But come on get something done, you wouldn't have looked this pathetic." She threw him an insulting gaze.

She wrinkled her nose, raising an eyebrow. "You have truly repulsed me now, I feel sick just looking at your face.” He could see the resultant disappointment in her gaze besides that there was only distance.

He slouched his back against the wall.

After spending five years together, he had fallen in love with her and did anything within his power to make her not despise him, but nothing fruitful is yielding, he could not imagine living without her, and possibly the same goes for Pamela.

The rest of the people that were there mocked and gloated over his embarrassment and made fun of her.

" They say love is expensive."

"I wouldn't marry for love. Now see the bitterness loaming. The air is tight." They flushed as Pamela frowned.

“Go away, if you don't want me to lose the last ounce of hope I have in you.” She insisted. 

She threw her face away from him, like a dream, he stood there looking at her, before he finally said.

“Fine, I guess a lot has changed.” Clenching his fist together, he was completely neutral. 

He had no idea how he made it to the elevator. Was this how things were going to end between them? he wondered, he heard his phone ringing against his pocket, it grew loud before he fished it out, sulking on his saliva he answered.

“Hello, Josh.” He immediately heard a voice that seemed familiar. "Would you want to come for a drink? I'm sure you don't want to miss seeing your old friends, I'm inviting…" said the feminine voice. 

"Cindy?"

"Yuppy!" It was Cindy, her screeching voice wasn't hard to recognize. 

She was Joshua's best friend from high school. She organized a party and invited him. He couldn't reject the offer, not for anything but then he looked at himself. His dresses were already breached and rough. Should he go and change? Funny, if he had another presentable he would have considered the thought.

"Are you coming?" Still, on the line, she pestered him.