He Was Almost Absorbed By The System - Part Two

Chapter One Hundred And Ninety One - Paths Destined To Cross

One of the best University's in the Deva sector of the Union is located on the planet of Shang-hi, a highly developed cityscaped world, home not only to said hub of education, but also to headquarters of several large businesses.  And if the headquarters were not located on world, there would most definitely be a regional office.  Shang-hi itself, was also popular for the reason that it could be considered near central in location within it's sector of space, thus accessible to many inhabited worlds, a shuttle-bus flight away and the fairs were not expensive.

Adjacent to the University and close to several towering skyscrapers and smaller blocks of offices and apartments, is a landscaped park, a small lung of green, providing fresh rather than recycled air.  The ornamental trees that offered shade were all chosen for they were aesthetically pleasing, with blossoms upon their brown branches in the spring, lush verdant leaves in the summer altering to colours of fire and earth before the approach of winter.  The gardens were a mix of seasonal and hardy plants, providing colour and interest all year round in a very tame environment.

It was not a place that Dominic usually came to take pictures and relax.  However, he had felt the eyes upon him had intensified of late, so like a good little tool, he could only escape the confines of his 'home' to appear busy in his nominal office.  Occasionally, he would even aid his brother with a little screen-work before returning to that cold house.  All the while waiting for the eyes to glance away for a brief moment.  But despite his promises to himself, he had broken routine and had not left the planet the previous night.

The reason was a simple one.  His limit had been reached and his wife was one push away from sending him beyond it.  Why the fuck could the woman not be rational and accept that their marriage was nothing more than a sham?  What was with giving his family even more false expectation and hinting at a pregnancy that was frankly impossible unless she had another man donate sperm?  I dare you too, Destiny, he inwardly thought, give me the most perfect reason to divorce you that neither of our families could refute!

They had argued about it, of course.  It was probably a good thing that modern houses were so well soundproofed with shielding that would even prevent voices travelling beyond a metre from open windows, else their neighbours would likely be entertained deliciously most evenings of late.  Their screams and shouts could have easily traversed the half-acre to the property boundaries.

"Stop with your lies!" He had yelled.  "We are not happily married, we are not blissful or content and we are not having a child!"

"Lies, what lies?" She had screamed in return.  "We could be happily married if you would stop acting so foolishly and we could easily have a child in the future as well!"

"I'm acting foolishly?" He had retorted with a harsh laugh.  "I am not the one spouting bullshit to the half the Galaxy!  Won't the journalists have a field day if they ever found out the truth!"

Her eyes had narrowed and her voice had lowered.  "You've changed," she had stated.  "We used to be happy before... we were the perfect couple.  Everyone was envious of us.  You asked me to marry you, surely you wouldn't have done that if you didn't love me?!"

"Maybe I have changed," he had agreed.  "I'm no longer blind to the person you are.  And as for being happy, let me enlighten you to a fact.  I haven't been happy for a long time, much longer than you realise."  She had slapped him then and stormed off to her room.  He was of the view that he had probably deserved that, but it didn't mean that he was going to stick around and suffer more.  Just an hour ago, he had completed a purchase of an apartment near his office.  Originally, he had wanted to use the context that it was a place to stay if he happened to work late.  After the night prior to last, he didn't care what others thought.