Pregnancy. One of the most beautiful moments in a woman’s life. That is, of course, if she has a loving husband who supports her every step of the way.

As for me, I had not only constant morning sickness throughout all the months of my pregnancy but also Arnie, who never got tired of reminding me how bad I had started to look.

Before my pregnancy, we had a good relationship. Arnie practically carried me in his arms.

He made me feel like the most cherished woman in the world, always finding little ways to show his love.

When we decided to have a baby, he was just as happy as I was, grinning ear to ear as he held the positive test in his hands.

But the moment I got pregnant and my body started changing, it was as if he had been replaced by someone else.

At first, it was just small remarks. "You could at least dress better for your husband instead of walking around in pajamas all day," he muttered once.

Never mind that I had spent the entire day by the toilet, vomiting at the slightest smell.

Then he started complaining. "You just lie around all day," he grumbled one evening, kicking off his shoes. "This house is a mess."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Arnie, my back is killing me, and I feel nauseous all the time. I can barely stand without feeling dizzy."

Then Arnie started coming home late, always glued to his phone, texting someone.

It made me uneasy, but every time I asked, he brushed it off. "Just work," he’d say.

One night, I was eight months pregnant. My belly was massive, my feet were swollen, and even breathing felt like a struggle. Arnie came home late again, reeking of women’s perfume.

"Where have you been?" I asked. My voice came out weaker than I wanted.

Arnie didn’t even look at me. He tossed his keys on the table and shrugged off his jacket.

"None of your business," he muttered and walked straight into the kitchen. "JESSICA!" His voice thundered through the apartment.

I flinched. My heart pounded. It took everything in me to push myself up from the couch.

My back ached. My legs felt stiff. I grabbed the armrest for support and forced myself toward the kitchen.

"What is it?" I asked, breathing heavily.

Arnie stood by the fridge, glaring at me. "Where’s dinner?"

My stomach twisted. I swallowed hard. "I feel sick again. I tried, but every time I smell food, I run straight to the bathroom."

Arnie rolled his eyes. He turned to the sink and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Could you at least have washed the dishes?"

His voice rose. "I come home exhausted, and this place is disgusting! No food. No clean plates. What do you even do all day?"

Tears burned my eyes. "Arnie, I’m sorry. I wish I could, but I feel terrible." My voice cracked.

He scoffed. "The only thing you do is sit around in your sweatpants."

I placed a hand on my belly. "I’m carrying our daughter. My body is working hard—"

"Don’t start!" He cut me off. "My sister was pregnant. She did everything. She cooked. She cleaned. She still looked good. And she never ignored her husband in bed!"

I gasped. My chest ached as if he had punched me. "Pregnancy isn’t the same for everyone. I never thought it would be this hard either, but I’m doing this for her. For us."

Arnie scoffed. "Stop making excuses. You’re just lazy!"

He stormed out. A second later, the front door slammed. I stood there, gripping the counter, tears spilling down my face.

I sat down on a chair and covered my face with my hands. My body trembled, my shoulders shook, and my chest ached with every breath.

How had it come to this? How could the man who once promised to love and cherish me now treat me like I was nothing?

That night, I couldn’t sleep. My thoughts spun in circles, tormenting me with endless questions.

Where had Arnie gone? Was he with someone else? Hours passed, the silence in the house growing heavier, until just before dawn, a message appeared on my screen.

He's here. He needed space.

It was from his mother. A wave of relief washed over me, but it didn’t last. He hadn’t gone to another woman, at least not tonight.

When Arnie returned, things only got worse. His gaze was filled with resentment, his words sharp and cold.