She nodded sadly. Trying to lighten the mood, I added, “I’m getting a new bed for that room.”
She chuckled. “Yeah. You bought that uncomfortable bed to keep Lance from staying too long.”
“Well, that plan backfired,” I laughed.
We moved my clothes in silence, agreeing to an unspoken truce. The rest of the day passed in cold politeness. That evening, we sat the twins down to explain what was happening. Watching my kids struggle with the news was almost unbearable.
I couldn’t even look at Paige, knowing she was the cause of all this pain. Over the next few weeks, life dragged on. I contacted a lawyer who told me we’d have to be separated for a year before filing for divorce. We agreed on a separation with heated discussions about the terms.
Paige wanted to date, and I insisted she keep it away from the kids. After two weeks, I moved out into a new apartment. After moving out, life felt bleak. One day, while sitting in my empty apartment, I saw a commercial for the gym Phil had recommended.
I decided to check it out. When I arrived, I immediately felt out of place, but Naomi, the manager, greeted me warmly and convinced me to take a tour. Hesitant, but curious, I agreed. During the gym tour, Naomi showed me the amenities, but what really caught my eye was a wall of before-and-after photos.
She pointed to one picture and said, “That was me when I first joined.”
I was stunned. Her before photo showed her at about two hundred pounds. She explained, “I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy. My husband bought me a treadmill for Christmas, which I didn’t appreciate at first, but it pushed me to make a change. With my brother-in-law’s help, I lost over seventy-five pounds.”
“Wow,” I said, genuinely impressed.
“So, Arthur, don’t feel out of place. We all start somewhere. Maybe one day your picture will be up here, too.”
Her words convinced me, and I signed up for a membership. I started with the beginner program, where a trainer showed me the equipment and gave tips for effective workouts. I then booked one-on-one sessions with a trainer named Manny every Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. to create a personalized workout routine. I also tried various classes, enjoying the Thursday biking class, but finding yoga less fun than expected.
Meeting others on similar journeys made me feel less alone. While the gym helped me stay sane, things with Paige only worsened. One evening, I visited the kids at our old home and found Paige’s niece babysitting. When I asked where Paige was, the niece seemed nervous, hinting that Paige was likely out with Derek.
I stayed to spend time with the kids and sent the niece home. Paige returned around 11:00, surprised to see me. She looked beautiful in her black dress, but her disheveled appearance suggested she hadn’t just been out dancing. I calmly said, “I came to see the kids. Since I was here, I sent Penny home. If I’d known you’d be this late, I wouldn’t have.”
She seemed to gauge my mood, but I was emotionally drained.
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, avoiding eye contact.
I shook my head and stood up. “No worries. Crap happens,” I said flatly, heading for the door.
As I grabbed my coat, she quietly thanked me for paying Penny.
“No problem. Good night, Paige,” I replied and walked out.
Months later at the gym, I pushed through a tough workout, but when I stepped on the scale, I found I’d only lost ten pounds in three months. Frustrated, I stormed out, feeling life was unfair. Outside, Naomi noticed my mood and asked if everything was okay. Before I knew it, I spilled everything.
My weight loss struggles, Paige, my kids, and even Lance. She listened attentively and then asked, “What do you really want, Arthur?”