A New Beginning

Three days had passed since Ashley and Avan had made plans to meet, and Saturday had finally arrived. Ashley woke up early, feeling a mix of emotions as she got ready for the day. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, noticing that her lupus rash was still visible on her skin. She had tried to cover it up with makeup, but it was still noticeable. She took a deep breath and let it go, focusing on the excitement of the day ahead. Ashley helped Ender get dressed, and he bounced into the kitchen, his eyes shining with excitement. "Mom, are we going to get cupcakes?" he asked, his voice full of hope. Ashley smiled, remembering her promise from a few days ago. "Yes, buddy, we are going to get cupcakes after we meet someone," she said, trying to gauge Ender's reaction. Ender's face lit up with curiosity. "Who are we meeting?" he asked, his eyes wide with wonder. Ashley hesitated for a moment before answering. "Someone I work with, his name is Avan," she said, trying to keep her tone light. Ender's eyes sparkled with interest. "What's he like?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Ashley smiled, thinking back to her conversations with Avan. "He's nice, and I think you'll really like him," she said, trying to reassure Ender. As they headed out the door, Ender chattered excitedly about the cupcake he was going to get. Ashley couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. She felt a sense of nervousness building up inside her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the present moment. As they walked to the café, Ashley took Ender's hand, feeling a sense of pride and love for her little boy. She was excited to see how he would get along with Avan, and she hoped that this was just the beginning of something special. When they arrived at the café, Ashley spotted Avan sitting at a table by the window. He looked up and caught her eye, smiling warmly. Ashley felt a flutter in her chest as she smiled back, feeling a sense of connection with him. Ender, oblivious to the tension, pulled on Ashley's hand, tugging her towards the table. "Mom, can I get my cupcake now?" he asked, his eyes fixed on Avan. Ashley laughed, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Not yet, buddy, let's go say hi to Avan first," she said, leading Ender towards the table. As they approached, Avan stood up, his eyes locked on Ender. "Hi, I'm Avan," he said, his voice warm and friendly. Ender looked up at Ashley, then back at Avan, his face a picture of curiosity. Ashley smiled, feeling a sense of hope and excitement for the future.