Breaking Free

43.

The countdown to Kierra and Tasha's wedding had officially begun, and their home was buzzing with excitement. With only a few weeks left until the big day, everything seemed to be falling into place. But there was one small detail that wasn't in the plans—Kierra's morning sickness.

Kierra groaned as she rushed to the bathroom for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. She knelt by the toilet, clutching her stomach as another wave of nausea hit. Tasha followed close behind, her face etched with concern as she stood in the doorway, waiting to help.

"Babe, I'm so sorry you're going through this," Tasha said softly, rubbing Kierra's back as she knelt beside her.

Kierra took a deep breath, her face pale as she leaned back against the bathroom wall. "It's awful, Tasha. I didn't think morning sickness would be this bad," she muttered, wiping her mouth with a tissue.

Tasha handed her a glass of water, her brow furrowed with sympathy. "I wish I could take this part away for you."

Kierra gave a weak smile and took a sip of water. "At least we know it's a good sign, right? But man, I wasn't expecting to feel this queasy every day."

Tasha nodded, sitting beside her on the floor. "You're strong, though. We'll get through this together." She paused for a moment, her hand gently resting on Kierra's knee. "How are you feeling about everything? I know between the wedding and the pregnancy, it's a lot."

Kierra sighed, leaning her head back. "It is a lot. Some days, I'm so excited, and other days, I just feel... exhausted. And moody," she admitted, her voice quieter now.

Tasha smiled softly. "You've been a little moody, but it's okay. I understand."

Kierra rolled her eyes, playfully nudging Tasha with her elbow. "I know I've been a pain lately. I'm sorry. I just feel like my emotions are all over the place."

"It's nothing we can't handle," Tasha reassured her. "Besides, I still love you, moody and all."

Kierra couldn't help but laugh, though it was brief before another wave of nausea hit. She groaned again, pressing her hand to her forehead. "Ugh, why is this happening to me right before the wedding?"

Tasha rubbed her back gently. "Maybe your body is just preparing you for all the love and craziness that's coming. But I'll take care of you, don't worry."

Later that day, Kierra tried to rest on the couch, sipping ginger tea while Tasha bustled around, going over wedding plans. Invitations had already been sent, and the venue was secured. All that was left were the final details—flowers, seating arrangements, and making sure the dress fittings were scheduled.

Tasha glanced over at Kierra, who looked pale and a little grumpy. She hesitated before speaking. "Hey, babe? I know you're not feeling great, but do you want to talk about the flowers for the wedding? We need to finalize the arrangements today."

Kierra sighed, rubbing her temples. "Ugh, I don't even care about the flowers right now. Just pick whatever you like."

Tasha bit her lip, trying not to let the frustration show. "I get it, but I want you to love everything about the wedding. It's our day."

Kierra closed her eyes, feeling the familiar swell of emotions building up again. "I know, I'm sorry. I just... I can't think straight right now. I feel sick all the time, and it's hard to focus on anything else."

Tasha walked over to her, sitting down on the edge of the couch. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. How about I pick a few options and show them to you later when you're feeling better?"

Kierra nodded, her eyes softening as she looked at Tasha. "That sounds good. Thanks for being so patient with me."

Tasha smiled and leaned down, kissing Kierra's forehead. "Always. We're in this together."

The days seemed to fly by as the wedding approached. Kierra's morning sickness was unpredictable—some days she felt almost normal, while others left her curled up on the couch, barely able to eat. And through it all, Tasha was right by her side, making sure she had everything she needed.

One afternoon, about two weeks before the wedding, Kierra sat at the kitchen table, sipping on ginger ale. Tasha was on the phone with the wedding planner, going over the seating chart, while Kierra stared at her phone, scrolling through pictures of wedding dresses.

Suddenly, Kierra put her phone down with a frustrated sigh. "Why does everything feel so overwhelming?" she blurted out, her voice louder than usual.

Tasha glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong, babe?"

"I don't know! Everything! The dress, the wedding, the pregnancy, the fact that I can't eat anything without feeling sick," Kierra snapped, her face flushed with emotion.

Tasha set down her phone and walked over to Kierra, her expression calm but concerned. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed. We've got a lot going on."

Kierra shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just want everything to be perfect, but I feel like I'm falling apart."

Tasha knelt down beside her, taking her hands gently. "You're not falling apart. You're going through a lot, and it's okay to feel like this. You don't have to be perfect, Kierra."

Kierra wiped her eyes, feeling embarrassed for getting so emotional. "I know, I just... I want this wedding to be amazing, and I'm scared I won't be able to enjoy it because of how I've been feeling."

Tasha squeezed her hands, looking into her eyes. "Listen to me. No matter what happens, our wedding is going to be beautiful because it's us. It's not about the dress or the flowers or the venue. It's about the love we share, and nothing can mess that up. Not even morning sickness."

Kierra laughed through her tears, her heart warming at Tasha's words. "How do you always know what to say?"

Tasha smiled. "It's a gift," she teased, kissing Kierra's cheek. "Now, how about we take a break from all this wedding stuff and just relax? We've got everything under control."

Kierra nodded, feeling a little better. "Yeah, I think I need that."

As the days passed, Kierra's moods shifted from excitement to frustration, and sometimes she felt guilty for how short-tempered she had been. But Tasha never once wavered in her support, always reminding her that they were in this together, no matter how tough things got.

One evening, about a week before the wedding, Kierra sat on the couch, her legs stretched across Tasha's lap as they watched TV. Her morning sickness had eased up for the moment, and she was feeling more like herself.

"I can't believe the wedding is so close," Kierra said, glancing at Tasha.

"I know. It feels like we've been planning forever," Tasha replied, smiling. "Are you ready?"

Kierra nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I think I am. It's going to be amazing."

Tasha ran her fingers through Kierra's hair, her voice soft. "No matter what, it's going to be the best day of our lives."

As the countdown to their wedding continued, Kierra found herself feeling a little more at ease, knowing that she wasn't alone in any of this. Tasha was her rock, and no matter how many mood swings or bouts of morning sickness she experienced, she knew they would face it all together.

As the big day grew closer, Kierra began to feel the excitement bubbling up again. The morning sickness still came and went, but now, there was a new energy in the house—a feeling of anticipation and joy that made everything seem possible.

"I can't wait to marry you," Kierra whispered one night as they lay in bed, her hand resting on Tasha's chest.

Tasha smiled, her voice soft and full of love. "Me neither. It's going to be perfect. Just like us."