^^^^^ This is a fictional story ^^^^^
Knock, kock.
Dr. Harris, an elegant woman in 50s, slightly lifted her glasses, and says, “Come on in!”
“Hi!” A nervous woman stepped in. She looks like in late-30s, but has fair smooth skin, nice figure, and dressed well.
“Please take a seat!” She carefully places herself in the middle of a wide armchair.
“Mrs. Smith, right? Is this the first time you have a therapy?” “Yes. Because I feel really stressed, and I can’t really talk to anyone around me.”
“I see. You have come to the right place. Why don’t you just go ahead, tell me what’s in your mind now? Please relax. Here, have some tea and cookies.” Dr. Harris smiles warmly, like a grandmother.
“Oh thanks. Emmm… where should I start? Oh right, I have 3 children, in 8th, 6th and 3rd grades. My husband is an engineer. He always works late. When he comes home, he always gets so tired, either falls asleep on the couch or goes to bed immediately.”
“Oh, I see. How do you feel about that?”
“I feel lonely. I feel like I’m just a maid at home. Nobody cares about me, only asks me for dinner, or laundry, or when they have a problem. I love my kids, but they have their friends, their school. I sometimes try to hang out with other moms, but it still feels empty. We cook, shop, or have lunch together. At that moment, I feel happy, but when I return home, I feel empty again.”
“Are there anything you enjoy or want to do?”
“Nothing special. I enjoy sewing clothes, and reading books.”
“Are there anything else bothering you?”
“Emmm… Actually, recently something happened. We had a family doctor, a man, that I often took my youngest to see, coz he often has stomachache. Then, one day when I was shopping alone, I ran into this doctor. He asked me to have lunch together… And then, we have seen each other a few more times.”
“How do you feel about this doctor?”
“I don’t know… He asked me am I alright? He looked at me like a woman. He praised me often. When we walked together, he sometimes touched the small of my back, but I don’t feel offended, I actually liked it. It felt intimate. He said that he liked me since he first saw me, and he is falling for me. I feel like I’m dating, in love again.”
“How do you feel about your family?”
“I feel guilty, of course!! But I was very careful. I only meet him in other town, when the kids are in school. I think my husband hardly noticed.”
“Do you feel happier? Do you plan to continue?”
“No. He is married too. I know it’s not right. It won’t last. I think I just wanted to enjoy the moment…”
“Dr. Harris.” “Yes?” “Do you believe in monogamy? Do you think there should be just one man and one woman, for life?”
“What I think does not matter. What do you think?”
“I think a person is capable of falling in love more than once in life. I also think that it is possible to love more than one person. It is just the society & social values decide that it should be monogamy. But there are many other countries in the world practice polygamy.”
“You have a point.”
“Are you going to leave your husband for this doctor?”
“No. I still love my husband. He is gentle and nice to me. We had a lot of good memories together. Also, I love my children. I cannot leave this family or hurt them. Besides that, despite he said he loves me, I don’t think he’ll leave his wife either. He feels a responsibility with her.”
“So, what are you planning to do?”
“I feel sad, but I’ll not see him anymore. I’ll get another family doctor.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I think so… Dr. Harris, do you think I’m a bad person?”
“Why? Of course not. Listen, I’m not a priest or a teacher. I do not tell you right or wrong. I only talk to you, to help you feel better. Besides that, in marriage, there is no right or wrong.”
“How so?”
“I’ve seen people left their spouses and found happiness or who they really love. I’ve also seen people who were planning to divorce, but through marriage counseling, they learnt to love each other again, and happily got back together. It is a different story for everyone.”
“Wow… I see.”
“Do you want to try marriage counseling?”
“I think I’m fine. In fact, because this affair, I already had a change of heart. While I was alone, I imagined about leaving my husband, I cried. I realized that I still love him. I also thought, if he could fall in love with me, someday he could fall in love with other patients too, can I really trust him? On the other hand, I trust my husband with my whole heart. Despite he is not romantic, he doesn’t pamper me like before, he is always there for me, for our kids.”
“It sounds like you have already made up your mind, don’t need my help.”
“Thanks for listening to me. That’s what I need. I think I’ll learn to love my husband again. Maybe find something that we can do together.”
“That sounds great! Romance and feelings can come and go, but marriage always take effort. For two persons to live together for life, they’ll always face some problems. It depends on if you choose to try to overcome these problems, or give up. Of course, if you do not love each other, there is no point of trying. If you do, good luck!”
“Thanks.”
“Please feel free to see me again, if you want to talk.”
“Sure! Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, take care.”
^^^^^ The End ^^^^^