"Slipping Away"

Two weeks had passed since Ashley's ominous declaration, and her condition had taken a drastic turn for the worse. Her once vibrant spirit was now reduced to a fragile, flickering flame, struggling to stay alight. Weakness had consumed her, leaving her a shadow of her former self. The hospital bed had become her home, and Susan and Ender were her constant companions, refusing to leave her side. As the days blended together, Ashley's sleep patterns grew more erratic. She would drift in and out of consciousness, her breathing labored and shallow. Susan and Ender took turns holding her hand, talking to her, and trying to keep her spirits up, but it was clear that time was running out. Susan's eyes, once bright and full of life, had lost their luster. Her face was etched with worry and exhaustion, her skin pale and drawn. Ender, too, was feeling the strain, his youthful energy drained by the constant vigil. Despite his efforts to stay strong, the fear and uncertainty etched on his face betrayed his inner turmoil. One afternoon, as Susan sat beside Ashley, gently stroking her hair, Ashley's eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was unfocused, her voice barely audible, but Susan leaned in, desperate to hear her daughter's words. "Ashley, sweetie, I'm here," Susan whispered, her voice trembling. Ashley's chest heaved with effort as she tried to speak. "If... I stop breathing," she croaked, her words punctuated by labored gasps. "Let me go." Susan's face crumpled, and she felt a sob welling up in her chest. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, baby, don't say that. You're going to be okay." Ashley's gaze locked onto her mother's, a faint smile on her lips. "Don't bring me back," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Don't make me come back to this life." Susan felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair. She had always been the rock for her children, but now she was powerless to stop the inevitable. She wrapped her arms around Ashley, holding her close as Ender climbed onto the bed beside them, his eyes brimming with tears. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the hospital room, Ashley's eyes drifted shut, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Susan and Ender held her close, their hearts heavy with grief, waiting for the inevitable, and wondering what the future held for them without their beloved Ashley.