At the Broken Trough
From childhood, Alice knew she was beautifuleveryone around her made sure to remind her.
«Our Alice is such a lovely girl, truly stands out with her striking beauty,» her mother would proudly tell colleagues and friends.
And indeed, no one could argue. Alice was undeniably pretty. Though one neighbour couldnt help but mutter sceptically,
«All children are sweet, but not all grow up to be so fortunate. Not saying it always happens, but it does.»
Alice blossomed into a tall, elegant beauty by her final school years. Arrogant and spoiled, she knew men would bend over backwards for herespecially the boys who watched her with hungry eyes.
After failing to get into university, she settled for a trade college, graduating with a diploma in retail management.
«Sweetheart,» her mother suggested, «why dont I get you a job at the factory lab? Its easy work, nothing too strenuous. Youre not made for heavy lifting.»
«But what about my qualification?» Alice protested.
«Oh, who works in their field these days? Besides, trade isnt for you,» her mother decided. Both parents had spent their lives at the factory.
So Alice became a lab technician. By then, she had grown even more striking, fully aware of her worth. She fell for Vincent, an engineer from another department. Their affair burned bright and fastsoon, he proposed.
«Before someone steals you away, marry me,» he said with a grin, offering his hand. «What do you say?»
«I do,» she answered, beaming.
Their wedding was typicalheld in the factory canteen, modest but crowded, like all Soviet-era celebrations.
Not long after, Alice discovered she was expecting.
«Vincent, were going to have a baby,» she announced.
«Thats wonderful, Alice. Im so happy,» he murmured, kissing her.
A beautiful daughter arrived, inheriting Alices looks. For a while, they were happy.
But time passed. Their little girl grew, started nursery, while Alice and Vincent worked. After maternity leave, Alice changednot in looks, but in spirit. She began acting like royalty, belittling her husband more each day. Vincent took over raising Sophie, fetching her from nursery, reading bedtime stories, tucking her in.
Alice was always busy. Late from work, though Vincent knew the lab never kept her overtime. He dared not confront hershed unleash a scene the whole flat would hear. He endured, shielding Sophie from their fights.
«Vincent, your wife was seen at that posh restaurant with the chief engineer,» colleagues whispered. Hed just lower his eyes.
«Vincent, why marry a beauty?» friends prodded. «You know what they saya pretty cake wont stay untouched for long»
Openly, people told him Alice moved in higher circles now, flaunting ministerial connections while he remained a simple engineer. She took up with Anthony, a well-placed bureaucrat who spoiled her with jewels and designer gifts.
Vincent became a shadow in his own home. Cooking, cleaning, caring for SophieAlice only gave orders. Divorce never crossed his mindhe wouldnt traumatise their daughter.
Then came the turbulent 90s. Anthonys influence crumbled like so many others.
«Alice, if they ask about me dont say much,» he muttered one evening. «I dont think well meet again soon.»
He vanishedarrested. Alice was summoned too, questioned, detained. She wept, begged, swore ignorance. Eventually released, but her reputation was ruined. She came home feeling filthy, as if shed waded through sewage.
Everything was gone. Savings drained, Vincent sold half their possessions to cover her legal fees. The factory sacked her. Though Vincent refused to divorcefor Sophies sakethey lived as strangers.
Once, he nearly left. But guilt over Sophie held him back.
Hearing his doubts, Alice swallowed her pride.
«Vincent, dont go. Forgive me. It wont happen again.»
He stayed. But he wouldnt touch her.
«You slept with them,» he said coldly.
«I did it for us,» she shot back.
Soon, she strayed againthis time with a young assistant, Ethan. Old contacts and sharp wits helped her bounce back. Borrowing money, she rented a souvenir kiosk in a tourist hotspot. Within years, she owned two shops.
«Vincent, fetch me from the airportIm flying to Turkey for stock,» she ordered. «Then Poland. Why dont you quit your job and help me?»
«No. Im no businessman,» he refused.
«But I need a mans strength!»
«Plenty of unemployed men around,» he said flatly.
So Alice took Ethan as both assistant and lover, hiding in hotels. Money flowed, but their marriage remained hollow. Vincent knew.
«If you paid me attention, I wouldnt need Ethan,» she sneered.
«You disgust me,» he muttered.
Years flew. Sophie married and moved to Scotland. New Year cameAlice jetted to China, Vincent celebrated in Norway with friends. They reunited for old New Year.
«Alice whats this?» Vincent gaped. «You look younger.»
She did. No trace of middle-age spreadslim and radiant again.
«How much did that cost?»
Alice laughed hysterically, then sobered.
«Everything. I gave it all.» She showed bare fingers, emptied her purse. «Chinese magicmassages, acupuncture. Very expensive.»
She wouldnt age beside Ethan.
«Youre old. Look at me,» she taunted, twirling.
«Were the same age!»
She cackled. Vincent withered.
But the treatments drained her funds. Then Vincent had a heart attack. Hospitalised, retired overnight, aged decades.
«God, is that what Id look like?» Alice muttered, eyeing him then the mirror.
«Alice, stay with me,» he sometimes pleaded.
«I cant. Time is money.»
One day at the shop, Ethan handed her a folder.
«Read this.»
«What? Ive no time»
«Its done, Alice. This is all mine now. Youre out.»
Her lawyer sighed.
«Alice, Im sorry. Ethans paperwork is flawless. Your signatures are on every transfer.»
«But I thought it was temporary!»
«You shouldve read it.»
«Youre expensive,» she sneered.
«And you skimped. Now you complain?»
Defeated, she trudged home.
«I need money. A lot,» she announced.
«Weve nothing left,» Vincent said weakly.
«The flat, then.»
«No!»
«Well sell it, buy something cheaper.»
«And what will I do?»
«Ill buy you a computer. Live virtually.»
She laughed.
Alice knew shed rise againsell the flat, reinvent herself. Like a phoenix from ashes.
