52. Seven Moon

Morning sickness that Nadine experienced finally ended when she reached the fourth month of her pregnancy. Throughout the first trimester, Nadine never complained, even though it was incredibly tough due to constant dizziness, nausea, and, most challenging of all, mood swings that could change unpredictably. Brian was the primary target of Nadine's mood swings, facing her sudden sulks for no apparent reason, tears over not getting what she wanted, and her nightly ritual before going to sleep. With patience, Brian complied with all of her wishes, often feeling overwhelmed.

Every night, just before bedtime, Nadine would ask Brian to take off his shirt and lay down, resting her head on his chest. Brian had to rub her back until she fell asleep, and only then could he leave the bed to have a drink or use the bathroom. Yet Brian never got angry or complained about his wife's behavior. Instead, he felt grateful that Nadine wanted to be close to him all the time.

Tonight was no different. Br