Despite living in a cozy compound of four apartments, Karen's apartment felt different all the time. Apart from the tyre squeal and the engine sound of the car that drives in at night, and the creak of the door, all that is left are silence, and reflection.
Oftentimes, she had heard neighbors gossip about herself and her husband. “I never hear a voice from that house since I moved in." Some concluded that one of them could probably have a hearing difficulty. But that was not the case. Karen married Collins about a year ago. They were matched parters although they got to know each other before their marriage.
Everything fell apart few weeks after their marriage. Collins is a workaholic type who's living to fulfill his family's responsibilities and a huge debt they recently fell into. Karen is a sickly type who hardly associates with anyone. She was in search for freedom when she got married because she lived with her overburdened uncle and his family.
There was an emptiness Karen feels and she doesn't want to be a burden to anyone so she pulls away. Collins gets overwhelmed when everything keeps crashing in after their marriage, he spends a lot on her wife's health and works the extra mile to repay the huge debt of his family.
There comes a huge gap between the couple, they lived together yet their hearts apart. It suddenly because strange to communicate. They would sit together but their minds are racing with unspoken words. They finally resolved to living apart for a while so they can understand what was going on with them. Karen moved out to stay with her colleague at work.
For the first few weeks of living apart, Collins would come back home to meet the house empty, it was strange and different. Even though they hardly talk, her presence speaks louder than words. Seeing each other everyday was enough.
One night, Collins rushed into the emergency room after getting a call from the hospital. Karen collapse at work. It was a sign of relief after seeing her awake.
“Have you been taking your medications?, how could you allow this to happen? The doctor said you overworked yourself. You could just take a leave from work to rest when you know you are not feeling well." Collins bombarded her with questions.
“I…. just didn't know what else to do but work."
“What do you mean?"
"I'm already a burden to you and I want to stop being one. You get called to the emergency all the time and sometimes you take me here yourself.”
"You were never a burden to me, Karen.”
"I know the countless overnight you do at work, how you return late at night just to make sure I'm asleep before you walk into the house.”
"No, Karen, it's not like that, I know you and I are not on a good term but it felt different meeting the house empty when you are away, it's just hard to explain."
Collin who had been visiting a relationship specialist could understand their situation at that moment. They were distant companions, they are stuck in a communication gap. Struggling to find their rhythm.
It took time but Karen and Collins were able to breach the walls they created for each other. Karen now opens up to Collins about herself and Collins on the other hand finds time for them to be together.
