The Love That Is Taken

Take a Sedative

Finally the woman stopped her action and sat on the floor crying. Jonathan looked at him with a feeling of pity. It was not only this time that his wife committed physical violence against him. He always tried to survive because he understood the reason behind his wife's attitude.

“Already, dear,” said Jonathan softly while hugging Theresia who was still crying. “I am guilty. I'm sorry.”

That is, whenever there was a dispute between the two of them, the man who had been building a household with Theresa was always blaming himself in front of his wife. That way, the beautiful woman will subside her emotions and not hysterical anymore.

“I want to take medicine...”.

“Do not, Dear. You have to try to control yourself. Do not rely on sedatives.”

“The medicine was indeed prescribed for me so that I could calm down, right? Get me that medicine, Mas. I really need it. Please...”.

Jonathan complained to his heart. Why do I always obey his will? You stupid fool, Jonathan! Really cowardly men! he cursed himself in his heart. What kind of husband are you that is unable to guide your wife into being a good human being?!

“Mas.., please get me my medicine. I can't calm down if I don't drink it..,” pinta Theresia limp. Her body fell limp in the arms of her husband.

Jonathan lifted up his wife's body and carried her into their bedroom. Put that slender body on the bed. The arrangement of pillows in such a way that it becomes a comfortable resting place for Theresia.

His wife was silent to see the behavior of her husband who served her in such a way. For him it was common and deserved.

Then Jonathan left and returned a little while later, carrying a glass of water and a medicine bottle filled with capsules. He took out a capsule and gave it to his wife. Theresia refused and said, “Two items, Mas.”

“Doctors prescribe a grain for you once a drink, Dear.”

“It doesn't work for me. I need two grains. Quickly give it to me!”

Nervously the husband was afraid that the wife would take another capsule and finally give the Teresia two capsules of tranquilizer.

The beautiful woman immediately put the capsules into her mouth and drank the water until it ran out. Her husband wiped her wet lips with a dry tissue.

“Now turn on AC and turn off the lights. I'm going to bed. Tired of it.”

Theresia then arrange the pillows so that it is comfortable to support her head while sleeping. Her husband enveloped her body, turned on the AC, and turned off the room lights. He slowly stepped up and closed the door without a sound.

Finally.., Jonathan's mind is relieved. I can eat and shower in peace.

***

“You spoiled him too much,” comments Bastian bluntly. “Theresia is depressed, but when? It has been a year, right, he was angry, crying, and beating you just because of trivial problems?”

Bastian looked at his best friend with concerned eyes. She has never agreed to a man two years her junior date let alone marry Theresia, a spoiled girl the son of a famous conglomerate.

His father is the owner of a famous paint factory and property developer who built a luxury hotel and apartment in the city of Surabaya.

After marriage, Jonathan, who was a mid-level leader at a life and health insurance company, ended up working full-time at his father-in-law's paint factory. His performance which was considered satisfactory during the first three years made his career quickly uphill in the following years.

Now he has held the position as the director of the paint factory and property developer owned by his father-in-law.

“Why does Theresia not work anymore in the office?”ask Bastian of astonishment. He knew his best friend's wife was actually a great career woman. He has been helping his father since college.

But for some reason years after marrying Jonathan, his wife stopped working and began to pursue a socialite life. Following the celebration with fellow young mothers who are rich, struggling with social media whose content is just taking pictures here and there showing off branded goods and the luxurious life they live, and so forth.

“When we got married in the beginning, a lot of people in the office were gossiping about me being lucky to be married to the boss's only daughter. Theresia was furious at the time, but I tried to temper her emotions. We both decided to work separately. He's focused on his father's property, and I'm in the paint factory. Three years later, she began to feel anxious because our marriage never gave birth to offspring. Eventually she gave up her job at a property company and concentrated on following the pregnancy program.”

“Since then did you finally work together in both companies?”

“Betul. And now I'm serving as the chief director of those companies.”

Bastian took a long breath. “Your position in the office is highly respected as the main director. But at home you are treated like a slave! Sori, Bro, I had to be straightforward. You know I always talk as is.”

Jonathan nodded. He admitted that his best friend's words were true. It has been a year that he has been treated like a slave who must always carry out his daughter's orders perfectly. If he makes the slightest mistake, then the scuffles, mockery, and even physical violence must be received from Theresia whose emotions are unstable.

“Don't you have your wife declared barren a few years ago by a doctor, huh? Why has he been acting so arbitrarily towards you this year?” ask Bastian curiously. Had she been my wife, I would have left her long ago, her mind growled.

As a fellow male, he felt unaccepting of Jonathan who he already considered like his own younger brother being bullied constantly by his wife. But well, it's his own fault that he is still treated so, he murmured inwardly.

“Four years ago there was an obstetrician in Malaysia who diagnosed Theresia would not be able to get pregnant. Doctors we met before in Surabaya and Jakarta always recommended that we undergo insemination first. If it fails, then follow the baby tube program. We always follow the advice of these doctors. We went through one insemination and two tube baby programs. It turns out that there is no result at all..”.

“Then you consulted the doctor in Malaysia?"

Jonathan nodded his head. “Theresia was told by her friend that the doctor was very good at dealing with obstetric issues. There are many married couples who used to have difficult children finally be awarded offspring after undergoing a pregnancy program at the doctor's clinic.”

“And turned...”.

“It turns out that after undergoing various health checks, the doctor diagnosed my wife would not be able to have children, whether through insemination, tube babies, or surrogate mother services. We better adopt child only.”