He plans to leave home for where he says is nowhere. His wife asks him over and over again why he has to leave. He says he must go, that something important needs done. He wife says the family needs him more than ever before, that they are getting by despite the hard times. He says she does not understand. She asks him to explain. He says he plans to keep trying.
His reassurances that he would be back do not seem enough for her. She argues that the children would miss him, not to mention her. He says everyone would be better off if he left. He fails to convey how, apparently, despite the relentless pressure from her to elaborate on his imminent trip.
He would not even say when he would return home. He says it is a mission with a cause, albeit one that is not immediately obvious. Yet, he insists it has to be accomplished, and that he has to do the job. Their children are young, two boys and a girl, all under ten years old. They are also asking questions, even the youngest, only five years old.
He sets a date to leave and tells his wife so. He prepares for his trip every single day. He seems in good spirits, and keeps a diary of the days before he leaves. He says he needs to be diligent for the trip to succeed. He says he has to be sure he knows what he is doing. He says he cannot afford to fail. His wife agrees that he should not expect to fail in whatever he does, but disagrees he needs to take a mysterious trip.
He resigns his job, and sells his car. He says the family does not need more than one car and that they would get by with just that of his wife. She says that may be so, but wonders why he has to sell his car when the family is not pressed for cash. She says this suggests that he is not planning to come back.
She continues to ask him what this whole thing is all about, even whether she has done anything wrong. He assures her he still loves her and the children, that she has been the most wonderful wife anyone could hope to have and that he is proud of her and the children. However, she says she is not fully convinced about his motive.
His behaviour toward her has not changed, she admits. In fact, she says she feels ever more loved by him, other than when she thinks about his proposed trip. He gives her the proceeds from the sale of his car, and access to his bank account. He says she could spend as much of the money he has as she wants. He says he is going to be fine where he goes, that he would have even more money when he returns.
This seems to alarm her. She says she hopes he is not going to do anything illegal. He says he is not. He insists he is simply going to accomplish something so important he cannot give the details beforehand. He even says it is a mission over which he has no control, but on which nonetheless he has to embark, for the sake of all. His wife tells him it should not be his responsibility to try to solve the problems of all. He replies that it is everyone’s duty to contribute to the progress of all one way or another.
He adds that we have all become reliant on others and via common hegemony to do what in fact we all not only need to do, but would eventually have to do, even if we did not do so now. He argues that this is what he considers our bane, a certain complacency that only compounds an already complicated situation that we face.
His wife argues that he cannot change the world. He says he agrees the world has to change itself. He insists though that the process must start somehow, and it is with each individual that it does so. He says he would be more informed about the matter when he returns from his trip. He says that is one of the reasons he needs to make the trip, to be able to contribute more effectively his own quota to the progress of all. She shakes her head and walks away, apparently frustrated she is not able to convince him about giving up the trip.
A few days before he leaves, he says he needs to eat less and that he needs time on his own to meditate on the imminent trip. He locks himself up in his room all day, only coming out once in the afternoon, to have a meal. His wife says she is really worried about him, and asks him to see a doctor. He says he has no health problems and that his mind is quite sound. She says he looks different, and that she does not think he is healthy enough for any trip.
The evening before he is to leave, he calls his wife into his room and says he has decided to tell her what is really going on. The relief she feels is patent as she sits on a chair in the room directly opposite to where he sits. There was silence for a while as he shuffles in his seat, seemingly uncomfortable perhaps about what he is about to say.
At last he clears his throat, looks straight in her eyes and tells her he knows that she is not coming back. She is clearly shocked. She just sits there her mouth agape. He is also silent for a while. Then he says he is sorry that she is not coming back. She says he wants him to be happy is why, apparently no longer surprised he knows. He says he is happy and he is coming back. She agrees he is although without her and she is indeed, not coming back, if he did not seek medical help, apparently to his wonder.
