“I’M DR. JACOB Wilson.” The man offered his hand to Madison with a smile. “But my clients call me Dr. Jacob.”

Madison accepted her hand awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Jacob,” she said and pulled her hand quickly. “This is William, my husband…”

The doctor nodded at William and offered his hand. “Have a seat.”

Madison and William sat on the chairs in front of Dr. Jacob’s desk. She doesn’t understand why she suddenly felt uncomfortable inside this clinic. But maybe because she didn’t expect that the psychologist was also the man she bumped to in the playground.

“Mrs. Rutherford, if I knew it a while ago that you’re my client today, I would have waited with you in the playground,” Dr. Jacob told her.

She looked at him and smiled awkwardly. “Well, it’s better that you didn’t, Doc. William arrived late at our meeting place.”

William knotted his forehead at her. “That wasn’t what you told me earlier,” he said and leaned on his chair. “So you’ve met him before I arrived?”

“I accidentally bumped with your wife while I’m walking back here for an appointment with the Rutherfords.” Dr. Jacob explained. “Anyway, please fill up the forms that I need for your assessments. Is that okay with the two of you?”

“Of course, Doc,” Madison said and looked at William, who still looked not convinced with their appointment. “William, I know you wanted this session to end earlier. Please, cooperate.”

William blew his breath. “Okay,” he said and sat up straight. “Where are the forms?”

Dr. Jacob gave two folders to them and explained what are the questions that shouldn’t leave blank. “I’ll leave you two first, so you can talk about your answers. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

When the doctor left, William spoke to her immediately. Madison didn’t expect that he’ll find it wrong to tell the doctor about his late arrival at their meeting place.

“You made me look like as if I’m an insensitive husband,” he said, scowling at her. “Is that really what you think I am, Madison?”

Madison heaved a sigh. William is so disturbed that he’ll snap out easily with simple arguments like this. She knew that she had to handle him carefully so they won’t leave this clinic without finishing the counseling.

“I’m sorry…” she said, lowering her head. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry…”

“Saying you’re sorry is useless if you keep on making the same mistake over again,” he said, shaking his head. “And, do we really have to answer it all? Is that doctor going to send us to an asylum using the information that we’ll provide here?”

“William, you promised me that you’ll do this in exchanged for my promise to you that this will be our first and last visit here,” Madison told him in a pleading tone.

William heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry…” he said and started filling up the form. “I just hate being here.”

“I know, but this is for the better,” she said and reached for his hand resting on his lap. “I love you, William. And, I want us to get better from the stress that we’ve been through these past few years.”

William looked in her eyes. “Thank you, Madison. I love you too.”

At exactly fifteen minutes, the doctor came back to the clinic. He was carrying an envelope in his hand that has their name on it. “This is where I’m going to store the written information that you gave me,” he said and took the papers from them. “I see that Mrs. Rutherford has a beautiful penmanship.”

Madison knew that a psychologist can tell someone’s personality by analyzing their handwriting. But she wasn’t sure if their writing has something to do with their problem now. She just hoped that this session won’t take long. She can already see that William is getting bored and uncomfortable here.

“Can you tell me about the things that bother you as a married couple?” Dr. Jacob asked them.

Madison looked at William. He looked as if he wasn’t going to talk. So she decided to speak first. “We’ve been trying to—”

“I can’t make my wife pregnant,” William said straightforwardly that surprised Madison. “That’s our problem. For two years that we’re married, we’ve been trying to have a baby. But, she can’t conceive, and the problem is in me.”

“William…” Madison reached for his hand, but he avoided her.

“What? I’m telling the doctor what’s our problem, I’m being honest here, Madison,” he said bluntly, and it hurts her.

“I see that you’re a bit anxious, Mr. Rutherford,” Dr. Jacob told him calmly. “You can relax. I’m here to help the two of you.”

“That’s it. That’s our problem,” he said and leaned on his seat. “Can you just tell us how to cope up with this? So we can leave now?”

Madison looked at Dr. Jacob apologetically. “Everything that he said is right…” she said and lowered her head. “And, we went here to ask for counseling.”

“Failing to conceive causes anxiety to many couples, and that’s what I can see to you, Mr. Rutherford,” he said, pointing at William. “You’re irritated at simple things and tend to get annoyed with the person that’s showing care and support to you.” Dr. Jacob shifted his eyes at her and smiled. “I suggest for the two of you to have quality time together. Take a break from work and spend a lot of time rebuilding the intimacy between the two of you.”

Madison suddenly felt emotional. Her chest tightened as she listened to the doctor’s analysis of the struggles they’re facing now. When she looked at William, her chest hurt even more.

“If you wouldn’t start on saving your relationship now, you might end up with the cases I’ve encountered before,” he said and looked at them worriedly. “Their files were labeled Marital Discord. I know that you don’t want it to happen, especially you, Mrs. Rutherford.” He then turned to William. “When I left the two of you here while filling up the form, I watched the CCTV and saw how you treated your wife, Mr. Rutherford. You have to understand your wife as she was trying to understand you. In your case, you wasn’t the only one suffering here, but also her—”

William suddenly raised from his seat. “I don’t need counseling from a doctor who hasn’t experienced getting married and having a family,” he smirked. “Madison, let’s go. We’re just wasting our time here.”

Madison watched in shock when William stormed out of the clinic. “William!” She stood and was about to follow her husband when Dr. Jacob called her.

“He’ll understand it soon, Madison,” he said as he walked towards her. “You just have to be strong.”

Madison fought back her tears. “I don’t know if I can still bear this… It hurts me to see him like that—”

“He’ll be okay,” Dr. Jacob said with an assuring smile. “Just don’t give up on him and be a strong wife,” he added and touched her arm.

***