"Aftershocks"

A few days had passed since the funeral, and Ender was back at school, trying to adjust to his new reality. He had always been a happy and carefree kid, but the loss of his sister had left a gaping hole in his heart. As he walked into his classroom, his friends noticed that he looked different, his usual sparkle gone from his eyes. At recess, Ender gathered his friends around him, his voice barely above a whisper. "Guys, I need to tell you something," he said, his eyes welling up with tears. "My sister... she was born dead." The kids looked at each other, unsure of what to say. One of them, a boy named Max, spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Ender. That's really tough." But before Ender could respond, the teacher, Mrs. Johnson, appeared, her expression concerned. "Ender, I need to talk to you for a minute," she said, her voice gentle. Ender got up and followed Mrs. Johnson to her office. She picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Ashley, it's Mrs. Johnson from Ender's school. I think it would be best if you came in to talk to me about Ender." Ashley received the call at home, where she had been sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV for hours. She hadn't left the house since the funeral, and Avan had been taking care of her, trying to be supportive. But as she heard Mrs. Johnson's words, she felt a pang of anxiety. She got up from the couch, her legs trembling beneath her. She looked at herself in the mirror, and what she saw shocked her. She was pale and thin, with dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn't slept in months. Ashley made her way to the school, her heart heavy with grief. When she arrived at Mrs. Johnson's office, she was greeted by the concerned faces of Ender's teacher and the school counselor. "Ashley, I'm so sorry to see you like this," Mrs. Johnson said, her voice filled with compassion. "Ender told his friends about Avery, and I think it would be best if we talked about how he's coping." Ashley nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. She took a seat, trying to compose herself. But as she looked around the room, she felt like she was going to break down. The counselor, a kind-faced woman named Ms. Thompson, spoke up. "Ashley, we're here to support you and Ender. We know this is a difficult time for you both." Ashley nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel so lost," she said, her eyes streaming with tears. "I keep thinking about Avery, and how I'll never get to see her grow up." Ms. Thompson nodded sympathetically. "It's okay to feel that way, Ashley. Grief is a process, and it takes time. We'll be here to support you every step of the way." As Ashley left the school, she felt like she was walking through a fog. She was depressed and grieving, and she didn't know how to get out of this dark place. But as she looked up at the sky, she saw a glimmer of hope. She knew she had Avan and Ender to support her, and with time, she would learn to heal.