Barren

It's already three years in marriage, yet Sophia has not conceived a child, would it be that she's barren? Her mother in law would often visit her to give her different fertility tonics to help her get pregnant but all the effort was futile. This time, she had come to stay for months, she wanted to know what the problem is; "why is she not taking in? Maybe I should get my son another woman to marry, I can't stand this anymore!", Mrs Martins thought within herself as she awaits the morning breakfast, minutes later, breakfast was served by her daughter-in-law, Sophia, who rushed back to the kitchen to finish what she was doing.

From the kitchen, just as she came in, Sophia heard sound of plates shattering which echoes through the dinning room, a stark contrast to the tense silence that had filled the air just moments before. Sophia's eyes wide as she turns to face the source of the noise, her heart racing with anticipation.

Sophia had rushed to the dinning room, only to see the food she just served, smashed on the floor, "mother, what happened?", Sophia asked, approaching her mother-in-law

"Do I owe you an explanation? And I am not your mother!", Mrs Martins replied sharply, before she added, "how can I be enjoying this meal when what I have always wanted is no way happening?",

"I don't understand, mother, is there anything you want me to do? I will do it right away, if the food is not to your taste, I can prepare another meal", Sophia said, trying to find out what the problem could be. "All I have always wanted is for you to give my son a child, if I didn't give birth to him, would you be married to him now?", Mrs Martins asked furiously

"I will still conceived, I have been drinking the tonics you gave me the last time, and I am sure that in God's ti...",

"Shut that trap you called mouth, you idiot! Don't you dare play innocence here, how many abortions have you done in the past before you seduced my son that you can't conceive now? Mrs Martins interrupted Sophia.

Sophia tried to calm the situation, her voice gentle but firm. "Mother, please, let's not fight. I understand you're worried about grandkids, but accusing me of abortions and seduction is too much."

But Mrs. Martins wouldn't relent, her words piercing like daggers. "You're the one who's too much, Sophia! You're the one who's failing my son and our family!"

Sophia's hands trembled as she tried to reason with her mother-in-law. "I'm trying my best, Mother. I want a child just as much as you do. But stress and tension won't help us get there."

Mrs. Martins scoffed, her tone venomous. "You're not trying hard enough, Sophia! You're not woman enough to give my son a child!"

Sophia's face stung from the verbal blows, but she refused to give up. "Mother, please... let's seek help together. Let's find a solution, not more hurtful words."

But Mrs. Martins just turned her back, leaving Sophia standing alone, tears streaming down her face. The situation was spiraling out of control, and Sophia felt like she was running out of options.

"Prepare to divorce my son if you can't bear him a child, I supported your marriage but now I will give everything I have to take you prostitute out of my household, I will get a woman who will bear children for my son, just you wait!", Mrs Martins said as she stormed out of the dinning room.

Sophia is crying now, she desperately tried every method but bearing a child seemed like a mission impossible to her.

Raphael, Sophia's husband, who just returned from work, not understanding the unusual quietness in his house called, "honey, honey?", there was no answer and he wondered.

Raphael walked into the dining room, expecting to see his wife and mother chatting over dinner, but instead, he found Sophia sobbing uncontrollably, her body shaking with anguish. The room was tense, the air thick with unspoken words.

"Sophia, what's wrong?" Raphael asked, concern etched on his face as he rushed to her side.

Sophia couldn't speak, her tears flowing like a river. She pointed to the door, indicating that his mother had been there, and that's when Raphael saw the shattered plates, the remnants of a meal that had been violently discarded.

His eyes narrowed, understanding the situation. "Mother, what have you done now?" he muttered under his breath, frustration and anger simmering.

Sophia finally found her voice, her words barely audible. "She wants me to leave... if I can't bear a child... she called me a prostitute..."

Raphael's face darkened, his jaw clenched in anger. "I'll take care of this, Sophia. I promise. You're not going anywhere. You're my wife, and I love you, no matter what."

But Sophia's tears continued to fall, her heart heavy with the weight of her mother-in-law's cruel words and the pressure to bear a child. The situation was far from resolved, and the storm was only just beginning.Raphael called the house help to remove the broken pieces of the ceramic plates and remove also the smashed food, walking into his mother's room, who was reading a book with her glasses on.

"Mom, what happened today in the morning?", Raphael inquired, "ask that harlot you call a wife, so she haven't cleaned the dinning? Oh oh, she is so gutsy, but she will have to contend with me now", his mother answered.

"I won't have you call my wife that, she's my wife and I love her, why are you accusing her? You two have always been in good terms, what is wrong?", Raphael asked, trying to understand the situation.

"Well, I don't think I have time for this, I was reading when you came in, please shut the door when you leave", Mrs Martins said calmly, putting her eye glasses back on, which she removed when her son came into the room