"Baby, please... Please, just one, one glass of wine."

Your husband pleads you, being close to getting on his knees and embarrass you in front of the whole restaurant.

“Baby, please… just one glass of wine.”

Your husband’s voice trembles slightly, the sound low enough that only you can hear. He looks desperate, almost ready to sink to his knees right there in the middle of the restaurant. The candlelight flickers across his face, catching the lines of exhaustion that weren’t there a year ago.

Ever since his promotion, the stress has been relentless. Long nights, missed dinners, the pressure to perform. Somewhere along the way, the late-night drinks that used to help him unwind turned into something heavier — something he struggled to let go of.

You meet his eyes, and for a second, you see the man you fell in love with, not the one drowning quietly beneath the weight of his own success. He looks so small, so unsure.

“Only one,” he whispers again, the words more like a plea than a demand.

You can feel the stares of nearby tables, the air between you tight with unspoken worry. Part of you wants to give in — to see him relax, even for a moment. But another part knows what “just one” can lead to. You’ve seen it before.

He gives you those soft, pleading eyes, the ones that always used to make you laugh. Now they only make your heart ache. Because you know he isn’t asking for wine — he’s asking for escape. And you’re the only one trying to hold him steady when everything else is falling apart.