She glanced with tenderness at the man who lay sleeping beside her, his soft breaths gently raising and lowering his chest ever so subtly. Though she was exhausted and her eyelids were drooping, she wasn’t ready to surrender to dreams just yet. She drew closer to him and laid her head on his chest, smoothing the sheets over her softly rounded belly. He murmured slightly and woke just enough to feel her closer to him, then gently turned on his side, kissed her forehead, and fell back asleep with his hand on her belly.
She felt the emotion rising in her throat as she swallowed back tears. Not so long ago, she knew, it would have been impossible to be where she was. For years she had dreamed of and longed for the day when she could lay on her back to sleep and feel safe. For still more years she had craved to rest in the shade and protection of a man like the one she now lay beside- the man whose child she now carried beneath the steady beating of her heart.
When she had first met him and looked into his eyes she knew there was a future there, whether it was for a while or forever. Every baby step was terrifying to her in every way imaginable; she’d been in passionate love with him from the first moment, and yet every new stage was filled with new fears. From the first time she held his hand, the first time their lips shared a kiss, the moment he asked her to be his forever, she was saturated in sheer delight mixed with the ultimate panic. She had known for years that she’d walk through that valley, but she didn’t realize the valley and the mountain would be the same.
Once they were married, she entered the arena anew. He was patient and tender and gentle beyond her comprehension. She didn’t understand-or rather she couldn’t understand-why he never got angry when she was scared. Why he held her close to his heart and stroked her hair when she sobbed from pain and terror after every attempt to be intimate with him ended in panicked tears.
She cried for hours from both relief and fear in the aftermath of the first several times they’d slept together and he held her as she fought through the nightmares. He never took the blame for her struggle and he never behaved as though she had overreacted or exaggerated; he offered what comfort he could and brought what relief to her pain he was able. And she fell deeper in love with him with every passing day, for he truly loved her with all of who he was. Her needs were equal to or greater than his own, and his gentle servant heart became more evident with each moment.
But that had been almost two years ago now. She thought of this as she looked at him, sleeping beside her, and she knew he was her shelter, her comfort, her soul guard. She’d felt his touch on her bare skin, her breasts, her lips; she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he, of all men, was safe. Protection. Peace. Shelter. Love beyond any human love she had ever known. She’d grown to love and crave the closeness he gave her, to long for the glorious climax that was the physical recreation of love.
When she’d found out she was carrying their first child, she’d been overwhelmed by the flood of emotions, both beautiful and saturated in fear of the unknown. She feared that the baby would be a girl; that the baby would not be safe with him anymore than she had been as a child with her own father. She told him of the news and he was delighted; together they discovered they were having a little girl. She’d lain in bed with him that night and allowed the tears to sting her eyes as she told him of her fears.
He’d listened to her as she softly cried, while she spoke of how she’d longed for a little girl and yet of how deeply she’d been afraid that her little girl would not be safe with him. She’d told him that she was afraid to let him be alone with her, that she was terrified to let him be a parent.
But now, lying safely beside him with her defenses down, she knew.
She knew that through the terror and uncertainty of childbirth in the months to come, he would be with her-and that he would be safe. That she would be safe. She knew she could trust him with herself. She laced her fingers through his as he slept and leaned her head against his chest. She knew she could trust him to love and cherish and protect their baby girl.
She knew their baby would be safe beyond belief with the man she had chosen to be her forever. That she could trust him to be alone with their little girl; he could hold and feed their baby and she would not fear for their baby’s security. She felt the baby move beneath her as she leaned close to him and tucked herself under his chin to sleep at last. She had realized her biggest dream.
About the Creator
Tori Reimschisel
I graduated from Asbury University in May 2019 and am a human and family services worker in Lexington, KY. I'm a bunny mom to Arrow! Catch me hiking, biking or reading in my free time.
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the farce
Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. My alarm goes off and I jerk awake, groping in the dark for my phone. I hit snooze and sit up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and grasping at the fragments of the dream I’d just woken up from, remembering it had been unusually pleasant. I try unsuccessfully to yawn off the pasty morning bitterness in my mouth as I run my tongue over my teeth. 7:30. It feels way earlier and I’m less than excited to actually get up. I have things I have to do but I’m definitely not about this life. And in all honesty I’m kind of struggling just to live at all.
By Tori Reimschisel6 years ago in Humans
The CEO of Everything
They say "jack of all trades, master of none," but they forgot to mention the part where the jack of all trades is also the camera woman, the makeup artist, and the person currently yelling at a tangled Wii microphone cable in a her own bathroom while recording herself singing and trying to make it look realistic and professional. (As professional as you can make it with nothing but a cell phone camera and a mic that doesn't work)
By Sara Wilson5 days ago in Humans
Los Angeles Billionaire Moves to Nevada After California Threatens to Tax Wealth
When a prominent Los Angeles billionaire quietly packed up and moved to Nevada, it wasn’t just a personal lifestyle change — it was a political statement. The move came shortly after California lawmakers revived proposals to tax extreme wealth, targeting the state’s richest residents as a way to fund public services and address inequality. Now, that single relocation has become a symbol in a much larger debate: Do wealth taxes strengthen states — or drive their most valuable taxpayers away? The Trigger: California’s Wealth Tax Proposal California has long wrestled with how to fund its ambitious social programs while addressing widening income inequality. In recent years, progressive lawmakers have floated proposals to introduce a wealth tax, aimed at individuals with net worths above a certain threshold — often tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Unlike income taxes, which apply to yearly earnings, wealth taxes target accumulated assets such as stocks, real estate, and business holdings. Supporters argue that this approach ensures the ultra-rich contribute a fairer share to public infrastructure, education, and housing. Critics, however, warn that wealth taxes are difficult to enforce and easy to avoid, especially in a mobile economy where residency can shift across state lines. The Los Angeles billionaire’s move appears to validate those concerns. Why Nevada? Nevada has become a magnet for wealthy individuals — and the reasons are straightforward. The state has: No personal income tax No capital gains tax Business-friendly regulations A growing financial and tech services sector For high-net-worth individuals, relocating to Nevada can mean saving millions of dollars annually. For someone facing the possibility of a wealth tax layered on top of California’s already high income taxes, the financial incentive is hard to ignore. In this case, the billionaire reportedly established legal residency in Nevada, purchased property, and shifted business operations — all steps that tax experts say are increasingly common among ultra-wealthy Californians. A Broader Trend, Not an Isolated Case This move is far from unique. Over the past decade, California has seen a steady outflow of wealthy residents to states like Nevada, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. While climate, housing costs, and lifestyle play roles, tax policy has become a central factor. High-profile departures — from tech executives to hedge fund managers — often spark political backlash. Critics argue that the wealthy are abandoning the state that helped them succeed. Defenders counter that states should not penalize success to fund unsustainable spending. The Los Angeles billionaire’s relocation has once again brought this tension into the spotlight. The Political Reaction in California California lawmakers defending the wealth tax proposal insist that fear of capital flight is exaggerated. They argue that the state’s economic advantages — including access to talent, innovation hubs, and cultural influence — outweigh tax concerns for most entrepreneurs. Some lawmakers also point out that California already relies heavily on its highest earners, with a small percentage of taxpayers contributing a large share of total revenue. In their view, asking the ultra-rich to contribute more is not radical — it’s necessary. Opponents, however, see the billionaire’s move as a warning sign. They argue that when even a single wealthy individual leaves, the state can lose not only tax revenue but also investment, philanthropy, and job creation. What This Means for State Finances The departure of one billionaire may not immediately dent California’s massive budget, but the long-term implications are harder to ignore. Wealthy individuals often: Pay a disproportionate share of state taxes Fund startups and venture capital Support universities, museums, and nonprofits If enough high-net-worth residents follow the same path, critics warn, the tax base could shrink faster than lawmakers expect. Supporters of the wealth tax counter that public investment funded by higher taxes could improve quality of life for millions — potentially attracting new residents and businesses in the long run. A National Debate Over Wealth and Mobility This story extends beyond California. Across the U.S., states are competing for residents — especially wealthy ones. Tax policy has become one of the most powerful tools in that competition. While progressive states push for redistribution, low-tax states market themselves as havens for capital. The Los Angeles billionaire’s move underscores a key reality of modern economics: wealth is increasingly mobile. Assets can move digitally, businesses can relocate headquarters, and individuals can change residency with relative ease. This mobility complicates efforts to tax extreme wealth at the state level, fueling calls for federal solutions instead. The Ethical Divide At the heart of the controversy lies a philosophical question: Should wealthy individuals feel a moral obligation to remain and pay higher taxes in the states that enabled their success — or are they justified in seeking the most favorable financial environment? Supporters of wealth taxes argue that extreme inequality threatens social stability and that those who benefit most from the system should help sustain it. Opponents argue that punitive taxation discourages innovation and rewards capital flight, ultimately harming the very communities lawmakers aim to help. The billionaire’s move doesn’t settle the debate — but it sharpens it. What Happens Next? California’s wealth tax proposals are still evolving, and it remains unclear whether a final version will pass. Even if enacted, legal challenges and enforcement hurdles loom large. Meanwhile, states like Nevada are likely to continue benefiting from California’s policy uncertainty, attracting wealthy residents and businesses seeking predictability. For policymakers, the challenge is balancing fairness, revenue needs, and competitiveness in a system where borders are increasingly porous. Final Thoughts The Los Angeles billionaire’s move to Nevada is more than a headline — it’s a case study in how tax policy shapes behavior. It highlights the difficulty of taxing wealth at the state level and the unintended consequences that can follow even well-intentioned reforms. As California debates its economic future, one thing is clear: in a mobile, interconnected economy, policy decisions don’t just redistribute wealth — they redirect it. Whether wealth taxes become a solution or a cautionary tale will depend on how lawmakers respond to the signals already being sent.
By Muhammad Hassan7 days ago in Humans
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