Afrikaans | The Price of Sugar, the Cost of Love
Die prys van suiker, die koste van liefde – B1
Hoofstuk 8: 'n Groeiende gesin en groeiende ontevredenheid
Liisa was in die kombuis en kyk na die lieflike uitsig oor die Helsinki-argipel. Sy was besig om middagete vir die gesin te maak toe sy Antti naby die tuin sien staan, ingedagte.
"Antti, liefie, kan jy my help?" roep sy en waai vir hom.
Hy kyk na haar en probeer glimlag. “Natuurlik, skat,” sê hy en stap na die huis. Toe hy in die kombuis ingaan, het hy gevoel dat iets in sy lewe ontbreek.
“Antti, jy was die afgelope tyd ver,” sê Liisa bekommerd. "Is als reg?"
Hy het gehuiwer, nie seker hoe om sy groeiende ongelukkigheid te verduidelik nie. "Ek weet nie, Liisa. Ek voel net of daar iets skort, asof daar 'n leegte in my is wat ek nie kan vul nie."
Liisa lyk bekommerd en raak aan sy arm. "Maar ons het 'n wonderlike lewe hier, met ons lieflike kinders. Wat kan moontlik ontbreek?"
Antti skud sy kop en probeer sy gevoelens verduidelik. "Dit gaan nie oor ons lewe saam nie, Liisa. Dit gaan oor my. Ek mis die opwinding, die opwinding van die jaagtog, die passie van 'n nuwe avontuur."
“Ek sien,” sê Liisa stil, haar stem bewe. "Is dit ek? Het ek vervelig geword?"
“Nee, Liisa, dis nie jy nie,” sê Antti vir haar. "Jy is so mooi en interessant soos die dag toe ons ontmoet het. Dit is net... ek vind myself dat ek iets meer wil hê, iets anders."
Liisa se hart was seer, maar sy weet sy kan nie verander hoe Antti voel nie. "Ek kan jou nie daardie opgewondenheid gee nie, Antti. Ek kan nie iemand nuut wees nie."
“Ek weet,” sê Antti stil en kyk af. "Ek het nooit bedoel om jou seer te maak nie, Liisa. Ek is lief vir jou en ons gesin meer as enigiets."
"Maar dit is nie genoeg nie, is dit?" vra Liisa met trane in haar oë.
Antti kon nie antwoord nie. Hy het net daar gestaan en na die vloer gekyk, wetende dat sy woorde hul huwelik vir altyd verander het. Liisa kyk huilend terug na die venster terwyl Antti die woorde probeer vind om die groeiende afstand tussen hulle reg te maak. Maar die woorde het nooit gekom nie, en die eens gelukkige paartjie het in stilte gestaan, vasgevang in hul gedagtes en die groeiende ontevredenheid wat gedreig het om hulle uitmekaar te trek.
Chapter 8: A Growing Family and Growing Discontent
Liisa was in the kitchen, looking at the lovely view of the Helsinki archipelago. She was making lunch for the family when she saw Antti standing near the garden, lost in thought.
"Antti, love, can you help me?" she called, waving him over.
He looked at her and tried to smile. "Of course, darling," he said, walking towards the house. As he went into the kitchen, he felt that something was missing from his life.
"Antti, you've been distant lately," Liisa said, worried. "Is everything alright?"
He hesitated, not sure how to explain his growing unhappiness. "I don't know, Liisa. I just feel like something is missing, like there's an emptiness inside me that I can't fill."
Liisa looked worried and touched his arm. "But we have a wonderful life here, with our lovely children. What could possibly be missing?"
Antti shook his head, trying to explain his feelings. "It's not about our life together, Liisa. It's about me. I miss the excitement, the thrill of the chase, the passion of a new adventure."
"I see," Liisa said quietly, her voice shaking. "Is it me? Have I become boring?"
"No, Liisa, it's not you," Antti told her. "You're as beautiful and interesting as the day we met. It's just... I find myself wanting something more, something different."
Liisa's heart hurt, but she knew she couldn't change how Antti felt. "I can't give you that excitement, Antti. I can't be someone new."
"I know," Antti said quietly, looking down. "I never meant to hurt you, Liisa. I love you and our family more than anything."
"But it's not enough, is it?" Liisa asked, tears in her eyes.
Antti couldn't answer. He just stood there, looking at the floor, knowing that his words had changed their marriage forever. Liisa looked back at the window, crying, as Antti tried to find the words to fix the growing distance between them. But the words never came, and the once-happy couple stood in silence, caught in their thoughts and the growing discontent that threatened to pull them apart.