“Steph,” Rodney said, holding out a gift-wrapped box as he entered their home. “I got you something special.”

Stephanie was seated at the kitchen counter, distracted by a magazine, but she eyed the box with skepticism before her face lit up. “Is it the Grenui perfume I wanted?” she asked, grabbing it and tearing into the wrapping.

“It’s not Grenui; that was out of our budget. But the salesperson assured me this is a great alternative…” Rodney explained but trailed off as he saw disappointment wash over Stephanie’s face.

She spritzed the perfume, grimacing. “This smells awful! Why must everything you buy be so cheap?”

“I’m sorry, baby. We’re just tight on money right now.”

“And who’s fault is that?” she shot back, her voice rising with frustration. “You promised me a better life. Basics aren’t enough. I didn’t sign up for just getting by.”

Feeling the sting of her words, Rodney remained hopeful about his project’s potential to change their fortunes. “Please, just a bit more time. I’ve made contacts. There’s interest in my idea,” he pleaded, trying to cheer her up.

Stephanie crossed her arms petulantly. “I’ve heard enough promises. Either things change, or I’m done.”

The next morning, Rodney slumped on a tiny stool in a narrow, dimly lit laundry room. He was dressed in a bulky rabbit costume, its oversized head resting on a janitorial cart beside him. His argument with Stephanie ran through his thoughts on repeat, and he couldn’t help but wonder how much worse it would’ve been if she knew he’d lost his office job.

His boss, the pizza parlor manager, interrupted Rodney’s thoughts with urgency. “Hey, bunny guy, your shift started. We need those flyers handed out now.”

He quickly grabbed the rabbit’s head. “I’ll be right out,” he assured.

The manager added, “Don’t forget the extra five minutes you owe for this delay.”

Rodney, now fully costumed, faced the bustling city plaza. His attempt to distribute flyers was met with indifference and mockery. A couple dismissed him, a woman outright rejected his offer, and teenagers ridiculed him, one aggressively scattering his flyers.

As Rodney gathered the scattered flyers, Stephanie’s voice, filled with excitement, reached him. “Aw, what a cute bunny! Let’s take a picture with him, Mark,” she said, her tone playful and familiar.

But he remained motionless as she approached accompanied by a well-dressed man and posed with him for a selfie. Rodney played along, glad that the costume was hiding his shock. But it was almost impossible to contain his emotions when Stephanie and that man started talking about their affair.

They also had plans to leave their current partners. Rodney handed them a flyer almost robotically, but Mark dismissed him, offering money, which only made his humiliation worse. They walked away mocking Rodney and laughing that neither of their spouses had discovered the truth yet.

Seeking solace, Rodney entered a local cafe. Inside, the lively discussion of a group of several entrepreneurs caught his attention. Suddenly, one of them exclaimed, “This is it, guys! We’re on the brink of something big! Our hard work is finally going to pay off!”

“Hard work? You think you’re the only ones working hard?” Rodney’s outburst, raw and filled with anguish, silenced the room. “Look at me! Day in, day out, I grind away for a dream that’s slipping through my fingers. You sit here in your little bubble, thinking success is just around the corner. Wake up! The world doesn’t work that way!”

Everyone was staring, but no one said a thing until the cafe’s barista, firm yet sympathetic, asked him to leave. Outside, Rodney’s misstep into a mud puddle further soiled his costume and his day. He later received a huge reprimand and a deduction from his day’s wages for dry cleaning fees.

He walked, almost aimlessly, through the darkening and solemn park, thinking about his materialistic and cheating woman as he sat on a dirty bench. It was there, that Rodney received an unexpected call.

The voice on the other end was brisk and professional. “Hi, Rodney. I’m calling from TechVenture Capital. We’ve reviewed your business proposal, and we’re interested. Can we set up a meeting to discuss this further?”

“Yes, yes, of course!” he exclaimed, smiling for the first time that day. “I’m available anytime. Tomorrow works for me.”

“Great, let’s meet at our office, at 10 AM. We’re looking forward to discussing your project in more detail,” the caller replied.

Suddenly, the park around him seemed to sparkle with the promise of a new beginning. But thoughts of Stephanie clouded his newfound optimism. He realized how differently they viewed love, and it was time to change some things…

At home, Rodney found Stephanie absorbed in the TV, coveting what people on screen only pretended to have. He presented a gift certificate for the expensive perfume she coveted, sparking her interest momentarily.

“Is that for me?” her voice softened.

“I found an investor for my project,” Rodney revealed, holding the certificate out of her reach for a second.

“Really? That’s… that’s great, Rodney,” she said, a confused frown creasing her brow as she tried to take the gift certificate once more. “I’m really happy for you.”

He asked her where she had been. Caught off guard, Stephanie faltered, and he let her sweat with her excuses for several minutes. But eventually, he donned the rabbit costume head, shocking her.

“You were with that guy, Mark. I heard everything,” Rodney declared and tore the gift certificate in her face.

True to character, Stephanie tried to salvage the piece of paper before coming up with more lies, which fell on deaf ears. Rodney may have been blinded by love once, but his entire perspective had changed in just one day.

“Stop lying. There’s nothing left to say,” he concluded. “I thought we had something real. I was wrong. All you care about is money.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, money is important!” Stephanie barked, her begging changing to outrage. “You’re nothing without me. I stayed out of pity. You’ll regret this.”

“I don’t need your pity. It’s over,” Rodney stated, his voice laced with sadness but firm in decision. Then, he watched her storm off.

The next day, Rodney was filled with nervous anticipation as he entered the sleek office of his potential investors. Among them was Mark, something that stopped Rodney in his tracks. His professional demeanor wavered.

“You!” Rodney pointed at his wife’s affair partner, unable to contain his shock. “You ruined my life!”

The accusation hung in the air, drawing stunned silence from the room. That’s when the woman at the head of the table interrupted. “Mark? What is he talking about?” Her voice was sharp, her gaze piercing.

Rodney blurted out the truth. “He’s been having an affair with my wife! And he’s a married man, too! I heard him laughing about getting a great lawyer to divorce his wife so he can run off with mine.”

“Is that true? Have you been cheating on me?” the woman asked. “Planning to divorce me?”

“Of course not, honey!” Mark replied, a pleading note in his voice. “This man is crazy.”

The woman pressed her mouth into a thin line and shook her head. “You must think I’m such a fool. Maybe you’re right, considering that I’ve thought your dalliances meant nothing all these years. Well, this is the last straw.”

She pointed to the door. “Get out of my office, Mark. Now. And I’d better not find you at my house when I return home later.”

Rodney realized what he had done and who that woman had to be. He apologized, ready to leave with his hopes dashed. However, she stopped him. “Don’t go. I’m Melissa, and we’re here for business. Let’s see your presentation,” she said, with a no-nonsense attitude.

He nodded, delivering his presentation with passion and clarity. The investors, moved by his dedication and resilience, considered his proposal on its merits.

***

Rodney and Melissa shook hands after the others had left the conference room. He learned that Melissa wasn’t just Mark’s wife, but the head of the investment company, and this handshake felt like a new start.

“Life throws curveballs,” Melissa said. “But how we respond defines us. I need to call my lawyer for a divorce.”

Rodney nodded and felt lighter as he left the office, hopeful about his future.

One year later…

Rodney walked through the bustling city in a sharp suit and with the swagger of a man confident in his success. Suddenly, he saw Stephanie with a stroller. “Stephanie,” he said, surprised.

“Rodney,” she replied, awkwardly adjusting the stroller.

“You and Mark had a baby?” Rodney asked, looking at the stroller.

“No, it’s not like that,” Stephanie said, looking down. “Mark left me, and I lost my job. I’m a nanny now.”

He felt no joy in her struggles. “I hope things get better for you,” he offered sincerely.

“Thanks, Rodney. I’m happy for your success,” Stephanie said.

Rodney shared a bit about his project’s success. Then Stephanie hesitated and started, “Rodney, do you think there’s ever a chance for us to—”

Her question was cut off by Rodney’s phone ringing. “Hey, love,” he answered warmly. “I’m on my way back now. Can’t wait to see you.”

Stephanie stopped, looking down at her shoes.

After the call, Rodney said, “I have to go. My wife is waiting. Take care, Stephanie.”

“You too, Rodney,” she whispered back.

As Rodney walked away, focused on his future, Stephanie pushed the stroller down the sidewalk. Alas, their paths would never cross again.