Spirituality Guide

Gem heard a car pulled through the driveway. She glanced at the clock. It was 6 p.m. It must be Corey, home from work.
Gem hurriedly wiped off the tears. Then she proceeded to do the laundry. Corey came inside. Gem briefly looked at him.
Corey nodded in her direction. She didn’t respond.
She went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Corey went to the bedroom to change.
Corey came out a few minutes later in white shirt and white short pants. Corey, just like Gem, was in his late thirties. They had been married for a little over five years. Corey still looked handsome despite his age. His tall, medium-built frame looked perfect in the clothes he was wearing. Unlike other men, Corey did not have the ugly bulge on his stomach. Corey took good care of himself.
“Hi Gem.�? He greeted her as he settled on the sofa.
He used to call her ‘sweetie’ now it was Gem. She sighed.
“Hi.�? Gem answered wryly.
The dinner table was set.
“Shall we eat?�? Corey asked.
“Yes.�?
But Corey did not move from where he sat. He looked at her with those deep, probing eyes, then queried, “Is everything okay?�?
“Yes.�?
“You don’t seem okay.�?
Gem would have wanted to shout ‘it’s none of your business!’ but she kept her emotions in closed lid. “I am.�?
“I’ve been wondering about this for days.�? Corey slowly said. “Tell me something. I want you to be honest.�?
Gem nodded.
“Are you tired of me?�? he asked squarely.
Gem was momentarily taken aback. It was a direct question that demanded an equally direct answer.
Gem sighed. She looked away. She could not bear to hurt Corey. But she needed to do this. “Yes.�? She answered softly.
Corey did not seem surprise at Gem’s revelation. “I could tell�?, was all he said.
Gem waited more from him but when none came, she asked “So what do you intend to do about it?�?
“Nothing.�?
“Nothing?�?
“Yes. Nothing. Am I supposed to do something?�?
“Yes!�? Gem shrieked out. “For our marriage’s sake you are SUPPOSED to do something about it. I EXPECT you to do something about it!�? She was shouting at the top of her lungs now. What was worse, she was way past caring.
Corey was caught off-guard. He was momentarily at a loss for words. When he regained his poise, he managed to ask “What do you want me to do?�?
“I want you to look deeper into yourself and know where you failed me.�? Gem said in no uncertain terms.
“But honey, you need to know, whatever grief I caused you, I didn’t do it intentionally. I love you all this time.�? Corey said empathically.
“I wish I can believe you, Corey.�? Gem said in hushed tone.
Then she walked away, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. Corey looked at her for a long time.
Gem felt a bit guilty for telling him off. She wondered if she had hurt him.
Gem didn’t speak. She sat down in her chair and ate silently. Corey sat and ate with her. He too was silent. She wondered what Corey was thinking. If he thought he could woo her back then he was wrong. This problem had dragged on for so long, it was beyond repair. If she would not act soon, the problem would occur over and over again. A vicious cycle. She felt obliged to put a stop to it right here, right now.
(To be continued)