What is life like for a middle-aged married couple?

Before the pregnancy, everything was pretty normal. But after our child was born, sex gradually became less and less frequent.

It felt completely different from before. Her passion turned into indifference, and she kept rejecting my advances. When she was in a good mood, she might agree once in a while, but even then, she was only going through the motions.

Eventually, she would simply lie there without moving. Afterward, she would complain about how troublesome it was to have to wash up all over again.

Every time, I felt as though I were entertaining myself with a doll—actually, even a doll might have been better, because at least it would not keep grumbling.

Gradually, I stopped setting myself up for rejection. Our daughter is almost five now, and we have not had sex in over two years.

To this day, I still do not understand how something that had been perfectly fine could suddenly change so completely.

I now firmly believe that sex has an enormous impact on a marriage.

We used to be inseparable. I would have done anything for her, and neither of us had the slightest doubt that the other was the person with whom we would grow old.

Now, it always feels as though there is a pane of glass between us. We can see each other clearly, but we cannot reach or touch one another.

I never imagined that married life would turn out like this.

A distance quietly grew between us. I tried having heartfelt conversations with her, but ultimately, the conclusion was this: our daughter is now the strongest bond holding the two of us together.

I was despondent for a long time. The road ahead seemed utterly dark, and at one point, I even fell into depression.

But I have to admit that time is immensely powerful. All our joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are eventually washed away by its passage, leaving behind either peace—or numbness.

Gradually, I learned to accept it and began devoting more of my time to my daughter and myself.

The only thing that still troubles me is that sex is a biological instinct—the deepest longing within an individual and the inner force that has made this blue planet so vibrant with life. It has been written into our DNA since birth.

Whenever I think that I may have to live the entire second half of my life without it, the sky seems a little darker.

Give civilization to the passing years—but civilization comes at a price.