Joanna and Jephthah: Love in Middle Renaissance

Joanna's eyes drifted over to him as he lay across the bed. Her face was still flushed from their romp, her hair wild and her breathing heavy. She looked at his back and chest, which were heaving up and down in an effort to gain back some strength. He held his arm behind his head as if he were a king resting on a throne. His other arm was draped over his stomach, it's muscles flexing as they recovered from the exertion that just occurred. Joanna reached down with her hand and ran it over his nape, the dark strands feeling soft between her fingers. Her palm moved down further, until she was running her fingers through the light brown hair on his chest. It was coarse and wiry, but soft enough for her to feel every little pore. When she reached where it met his stomach, she felt his abdominal muscles tense under her touch.

"What are you doing?" Jephthah asked, turning his head towards her.

Joanna smiled at him softly, "I'm just looking at you."

Jephthah turned his head back away from Joanna,

"I'm not used to this," He sighed quietly, "Being admired while I rest."

Joanna continued to run her fingers through the hair on his abdomen before asking "What do you mean 'used to'?"

"Well...Men don't typically admire each other...and well..." His voice trailed off into a yawn.

"Men don't typically lie with other men either..." Joanna said thoughtfully as she contemplated what he was trying to say. "Are you trying to say that men don't admire each other? Women don't admire each other? That we shouldn't admire each other?" She sat up abruptly as she asked this last part of the question, causing Jephthah to sit up slowly and turn around to look at her.

"I thought it was obvious," He said bluntly.

"But Jephthah...You're my husband...you're my love..." Joanna's voice quivered as she spoke with tears spilling down her cheeks now in earnest. "How can you not ever admire me...or anyone else?" A sob escaped her lips as this last sentence came out muffled by her arms being thrown over her face in frustration and pain and confusion.

Jephthah had been sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows resting on his knees, but now he stood up shakily and began pacing around the room with his hands clasped behind him. He stopped after a few moments of pacing and looked down at Joanna who was still sobbing into the crook of one of her arms which was wrapped around herself defensively. Tears were soaking into the thin fabric of her nightgown which clung tightly against her body from all the sweating they did during their passionate lovemaking session earlier in the evening.

Before falling asleep together in bed cuddling next to one another, they shared a moment of pure happiness, a feeling so strong that neither wanted anything to take it away. They feared that their connection may be severed by misfortune, like death or an accident, but their souls remained connected, like twin stars bound by gravity, always drawn together even when everything conspired to separate them.

But now, their bond seemed momentarily broken as Joanna felt unworthy of Jephthah's adoration because men don't typically admire one another or women, especially if they are their spouses. Perhaps societal norms have prevented them from openly expressing admiration for each other. Tears continued to fall from Joanna's eyes while Jephthah paced outside their bedroom door, trying to find a solution to their predicament.

Jephthah's silence during breakfast caused everyone gathered at the table to feel tense while Joanna silently wondered why he didn't express his anger or concern. Indeed, anger seemed to be an easier emotion for people to deal with since it at least results in communication. Sadness, on the other hand, often led to silence, which only made the feelings of hurt grow stronger.

Perhaps if Jephthah had spoken up when they first encountered the issue, things might have turned out differently. Instead, the situation escalated with Joanna sobbing uncontrollably, feeling frustrated and hurt by their inability to express themselves openly and honestly.

Situations like these affect the lives of all involved, and understanding and empathy take precedence in resolving the tension between them. It is important for each individual to grow stronger, both together and independently, in order to support one another through difficult times and experiences. By expressing their thoughts clearly and learning from each other, they can ultimately make a positive impact on their relationships and the world around them.