ASHLEY (broken but strong)

FIVE

“So tell me what happened” Layla said as she drops a glass of juice in front of Ashley. They had packed Ashley's car well and she is now relaxed on the chair in the sitting room.

“Well, it's actually Jeremy that saved me. He got a wind of the wicked plan and have to come and rescue me”Ashley said as she narrated everything that has happened to Layla. The attacks, her parents and Jeremy's present condition.

“This is very sad” Layla said with a concerned countenance. “Thank goodness you are safe and unhurt. Those idiots will not go scot free” Layla snarled.

Ashley sipped the drink Layla had served her. It is so refreshing and cold. Her throat is very dry and she needs something to moisturize it. She can't think of taking anything. Food? No. Supplements? No. She just wants to cry and grieve her parents.

But Layla tries to lighten her mood.

Layla's elder sister soon got back and is also shocked to see Ashley. She has also heard about the news. She consoled her and told her to feel at home.

Ashley relaxed on the sofa. She had taken the best decision by coming here. None of her close families were in town and going to family friends house will be very dangerous.

She feels even much better that Layla took her into her house. Layla had tried reaching Jeanne and the rest but their number is not going through.

Layla offered Ashley different types of food but Ashley declined it all. She can't even think of eating. Not now, Not anyday. She thought.

She settled into bed soon. There is an unoccupied room in the house. She found it so hard to sleep. She just crashed on one side thinking and crying afresh. Gosh! Life is very wicked.

Just this morning, she was with her family. All of them happy and ready to celebrate her eighteenth birthday and just some hours later, they were all gone… gone.

Is she cursed? Or she has a bad destiny. How could this happen of all days on her birthday. She continued crying mourning that moment.

#The next morning.

Ashley woke up with a fever and a splitting headache. She stayed in bed. Layla soon came with her elder sister and they tried to talk Layla out of her moodiness.

They offered to take her to the hospital or the police station but Ashley declined both. She opted to take medications only and also reasoned that she does not know who the enemy was. It could be someone she least expected and the police is not so honest in their dealings.

She doesn't even want to leave the house. She just wants to be alone.

Cali, Layla's elder sister understood her point and decided to do things as she proposed. She bid them goodbye and mentioned going out.

She is left with Layla in the house. She had cried nonstop the day before and today and it has started to take a toll on her. She also could not sleep at night. She feels her eyes so heavy. She closed her eyes and before she knew it, she drifted into slumber.