**Beneath the Breaking Point**

"I don't want to be here anymore," Ashley cried, her voice shaking as she buried her face in her hands. "I want it to stop. I need it to stop." The words poured out of her like a dam breaking, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was quickly replaced by a crushing sense of despair. Mrs. Smith's expression was a mix of concern and compassion as she reached out to gently place a hand on Ashley's shoulder. "Ashley, sweetie, it's okay to feel overwhelmed. But I want you to know that you're not alone, and we're here to help you." Her voice was soft and soothing, but Ashley couldn't shake the feeling of hopelessness that had been building inside her. Ashley shook her head, her tears soaking into her hands. "I'm failing everyone," she sobbed. "My brothers, my mom, my teachers...I'm just not good enough." The words felt like a mantra, a constant reminder of her inadequacies. Mrs. Smith gently coaxed Ashley's hands away from her face and handed her a tissue. "Ashley, that's not true," she said firmly. "You are not failing. You're struggling, and that's okay. We all struggle at some point in our lives." She paused, her eyes locked on Ashley's. "But what's going on with your dad? What's happening at home that's making you feel this way?" Ashley took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She looked down at her hands, her eyes welling up with tears again. "He's just...he's always yelling at me, criticizing me. He makes me feel like I'm worthless," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Mrs. Smith's expression softened further, and she leaned forward, her eyes filled with empathy. "Ashley, that's not okay. No one deserves to be treated that way. We need to get you some help, okay?" She paused, pulling out a piece of paper and pen from her desk drawer. "I want you to know that there are people who care about you, who want to help you through this. I'm one of them, and I'll do everything I can to support you." Ashley nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, things could get better. Maybe she wasn't alone after all. Mrs. Smith handed her the piece of paper, which had a phone number and a name on it. "This is a counselor who specializes in working with kids who are going through tough times. I want you to call her, and I want you to talk to her about what's going on. Can you do that for me?" Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She could do this. She could get through this. With a newfound sense of hope, she took the paper and tucked it into her pocket, feeling a small sense of resolve. She would take this step, and maybe, just maybe, things would start to get better.