Chapter five: A chance to speak

Maya's POV

I woke up the next morning. The first thing I saw was Ethan. He was sleeping on the other side of the bed, his back to me, his face turned toward the wall.

A strong urge came over me to move closer, to reach out and hug him from behind, to feel some warmth, some closeness. But the fear of his scolding, stopped me cold. It was like a strong, invisible wall between us. I pulled back, deciding to respect myself and the painful distance he always kept.

I then knelt by the bed, my knees pressing into the soft rug. I closed my eyes and silently prayed for a good and successful day ahead.

After a few minutes praying, I rose from my knees and walked quietly to his side of the bed. "Ethan," I called him in a low and gentle voice. I reached out a hand and lightly tapped his shoulder.

He stirred slowly. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, barely opening. It seemed he hadn't gone to bed early last night, which was often the case.

He mumbled something, his voice thick with sleep, still lying down and covered with the blanket. "Ohhh… Maya, what is it again this time? Can't I sleep in peace?" He shifted slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around him.

"You heard what your mother said last night about visiting Dr. Gilbert," I said, my voice firm despite his sleepy complaint. "And you know your mother doesn't go back on her words." I sat there, waiting for him to truly wake up and listen.

He sighed, a long, drawn-out sound of annoyance. Then he replied, his voice still heavy, "Yes, I know. We are going to see Dr. Gilbert this morning, like Mother said." He then shifted again, rolling slightly to face the ceiling, though his eyes remained mostly closed. "So please, let me sleep a bit, Maya, or is there anything you're hiding?"

I had spent much of last night thinking, wrestling with my feelings after his mother's words. After a lot of tears, I had decided that we would indeed see Dr. Gilbert. This visit felt like a small window, a tiny chance. At least I could tell someone what was truly happening, someone who might actually listen to me without judgment.

Dr. Gilbert would report the results directly to my mother-in-law, and he could help me explain, without my having to face her directly, what her son was doing to me. This was my hope, my only way out of the silence.

But what puzzled me now was Ethan himself. He knew we hadn't been intimate since we got married. He knew his mother was about to find out this huge secret, yet he seemed so relaxed, almost carefree. He even had the nerve to ask if I was hiding anything. What could he be thinking this time? I wondered, a new layer of confusion adding to my heartache.

I pointed my finger at him, my face and voice showing a new defiance, a surge of courage. "Listen, Ethan, I'm not hiding anything. I'm going there to tell everything without hiding a word." I wanted him to understand that I was done keeping his secret.

But he cut me off, not even opening his eyes fully. "Then it's good, since you're not hiding anything," he said with a surprisingly calm voice. This was not the reaction I expected from him. Usually, he would argue, get angry, or try to shut me down. His calmness was unsettling.

I was ready to argue with him, to shout, to release all the frustration that had built up inside me. That's what he always did. But this morning, he was different.

Even while I was pointing at him, raising my voice, and speaking my mind, he remained strangely quiet, seemingly unbothered. His odd reaction stopped me cold.

Just then, a gentle knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. My head snapped toward the sound. I knew instantly who it was, my mother-in-law. She was probably here to remind us of the Dr. Gilbert appointment, making sure we wouldn't forget or try to avoid it.

My husband, also knowing it could be his mother, quickly turned his body to face me, as if he had been lying there in a normal position all along, his back to me.

"Come in," he called out, his voice now fully awake and sounding perfectly normal.

The door swung open, and my mother-in-law stepped into the room. "Good morning, Maya, hope you had a good and romantic night because my husband and I did,” she said with a bright smile. Her hands moved gracefully, expressing what she was saying, making subtle gestures in the air.

She was elegantly dressed in a long, luxurious gown, its rich fabric and perfect fit reflecting her status and who she was. She was a no-nonsense woman, a person who did not tolerate any bad behavior from anyone, including her only son. Her presence filled the room, her aura second to none. I admired her somehow for her strength, and yet, I feared her too.

"Good morning, Mother," I replied, trying to force a smile onto my face. It was difficult for me to pretend, but she didn't seem to care or even notice my struggle. Her smile remained fixed.

“Quick one, my husband and I will be heading for a business meeting, so make sure both of you meet Dr. Gilbert by 8:00 this morning." Her voice was clear and direct. "I've already called him, and he will be sending the results to me as well," she added, leaving no doubt about her expectations.

"Am I well understood?" Her eyes looked from me to Ethan, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, Mother," I replied immediately, my voice a little stiff but obedient.

"Alright then, have a nice day," she said, her smile still in place, and with that, she turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.