hector was married to a woman in the 70s who believed that love had meaning to it. god intended people to each other from birth, and she had spent her youth fantasising about her perfect man. they met at a party. hector was everything she’d dreamt of, but he was lonely and craved intimacy beyond the physical sense. they were married a little too quickly, and bought a house a little too early. suburban and perfect, everyone around them had families. she wanted a family. a little girl she’d name mary, and a little boy she’d name george.
it didn’t happen though. hector dove into his new job as a maths teacher in the local high school. he’s at home for the husband and wife aesthetic, but he doesn’t want to pick her brain. didn’t ever want to talk. he feels guilty, but his coldness shouldn’t be excused. it’s not her fault that he doesn’t know what he wants, but she’s left feeling isolated and confused. he told her about his immortality at this point, well after the wedding had taken place. she thought he was mad, and they got into a fight. neither of them acted reasonably, but hector was in the wrong and he knew it. she told him that she loved him and he said he was sorry.
hector had, meanwhile, befriended the couple next door. they were always there at exactly the wrong time to keep up a casual relationship, and they quickly became wise to the newlywed’s struggles. he certainly hadn’t intended for it to get like this, but they offer a fresh perspective and he decides it’s best to leave his wife. actually, they said that he should try to love her, but if one has to actively try, he isn’t sure it’s fair on her.
she’d already packed his bags anyway. immortal or mad, she didn’t care, but he didn’t love her, and it wasn’t good enough. hector’s left feeling isolated and confused. he doesn’t know if it’s fair to fall in love with people when he knows he’ll outlive them. he dedicates himself to education, but he’s miserable.
until he isn’t, when he starts having wholesome one night stands that never mean anything. he’ll go through phases of having them and not, but he finds it much less stressful with somewhere to release his pent of romantic energy.