The Visitor (Known and Unknown)

A wedding is also called a meeting of the minds, and not just the bodies.

Neither Anni nor John could call each other, just a good catch, but more so, a double hooker.

John deserved Anni, and Anni admired John, for all the right reasons.

Their wedding was a well organized affair, that could have been written, in a story book romance novel.

Anni's parents were a respected couple in the community, and John's family, could boast, as being one of the most well-known, and well-off clan of the town.

John and Anni's marriage, however, did not bear the well-wished for fruit, in Anni's desire, to become pregnant. After numerous tries, and techniques, they both sought medical advice, and tests, to determine the reason, for their failure, of their marital bliss.

After numerous tests, it was diagnosed, that John's sperm count was too low, and practically unable to impregnate Anni.

Both Anni and John wanted to have children, and as two intellectual people, deep down inside, their secretive minds played, with numerous ideas, and possibilities, to achieve it.

One evening, as John and Anni visited the family restaurant, a couple sat in the next booth, and had with them, the most adorable toddler.

The longing, for the same was obviously sitting, on the faces of John and Anni, and their discussion, turned from food, to a more delicate subject.

Anni knew, that men are usually more shy, when it comes to admit their genetic makeup to reproduce, but the urge, to procreate, is the natural function of the female, and it was not different in John and Anni's case.

Taking an extra sip on her Chardonnay, Anni popped the often, yet awkward question directed at John. 'Darling, have you ever thought about adoption?'

Anni knew, that the best, and strongest character in a man can usually withstand criticism for failure, to a certain degree, in success, looks, comprehension, talent, or communication. But when it comes to the ticklish subject of impotence, it blows the biggest hole, in the man's ego.

John visibly swallowed the dry saliva in his throat, and only after taking a good amount of wine, to lubricate his vocal chords, offered a response.

'Anni,' he said: 'I love you very much, and I would do anything to please you, not to mention be instrumental toward your desire, to have a child. But have you ever played, with the newly invented possibility of in vitro fertilization?'

'What a great idea,' was Anni's reply. 'Let's look into it darling, as soon as possible,' she added.

After arriving home, that night, John made love to Anni, but on this occasion it was physically, and emotionally visible that he put everything in it: as to give an ultimatum to himself, and his unfounded guilty conscience, being inadequate to impregnate Anni.

A week later, Anni had her period, and it was obvious, that John's wonderful intention, ended in vain.