"A Family Legacy of Love and Pain"

A few days had passed since Ender's conversation with Ashley and Mrs. Thompson, and Ender was playing in the living room when he wandered into the kitchen to grab a snack. He didn't notice his mom on the phone, but as he reached for a cookie, he overheard her talking to someone. The kitchen was dimly lit, with only a sliver of sunlight peeking through the blinds, casting a warm glow on the countertops. Ender's ears perked up as he heard his mom's voice. "...and then he would yell at me and make me feel so small," Ashley was saying, her voice trembling. Ender's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the pain in his mom's voice. He turned to face the hallway, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. Ender's curiosity got the better of him, and he carefully made his way back to the hallway, trying not to make a sound. He hid behind the wall, listening intently as Ashley continued to talk. The sound of her voice was like a whisper, but it carried a weight that made Ender's heart ache. "I was so scared of him, Mom," Ashley said, her voice cracking. "I didn't know how to protect myself." Ender's mind was racing as he processed what he was hearing. He had never heard his mom talk about her dad before, and he didn't know that he had been abusive. A wave of emotions washed over him - concern for his mom, anger towards her dad, and a deep sense of empathy. Ashley's grandma, Ender's great-grandma, must have asked her something, because Ashley responded, "Yeah, I know it affected me. I was so anxious all the time, and I didn't know how to calm down. But when I met you, Mom, and you showed me what a loving family looked like, I realized that I didn't have to be that way." Ender could sense the relief in his mom's voice, and it gave him a sense of comfort. As Ender listened, he felt a deep connection to his mom. He realized that she had gone through something similar to what he was going through now, and that she understood him in a way that he hadn't realized before. The sound of his mom's breathing, the tremble in her voice, it all seemed so raw and honest. The next morning, Ender woke up feeling more determined than ever. He was going to have a great day at school, and he was going to share his mom's story with his friends. As he got dressed and had breakfast, he couldn't stop thinking about what he had overheard. The memory of his mom's voice, the pain and the fear, it all seemed to linger in his mind. At school, Ender's friends gathered around him during recess, eager to hear about his weekend. Ender took a deep breath and launched into the story of what he had overheard. "Guys, I want to tell you something," he said, his voice steady. "My mom told my grandma about her dad, and how he was mean to her when she was little." The group fell silent, intrigued by Ender's words. "What happened?" one of his friends asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Ender hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. But something about the group's supportive faces made him continue. "My mom said she was really scared of him, and that it made her feel anxious all the time," Ender explained. "But she also said that when she met my grandma, she learned what a loving family looked like, and she realized she didn't have to be that way." The group listened intently, taking in Ender's words. As Ender shared his mom's story, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He realized that he wasn't alone in his struggles, and that his mom had been through something similar. The group of kids nodded sympathetically, and one of them spoke up. "I'm sorry, Ender," the kid said. "That sounds really tough." Ender nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his friends. "Yeah, it was," he said. "But my mom is strong, and she's always been there for me." The group fell silent again, and Ender could sense that they were all processing what he had shared. But then, something amazing happened. One of his friends, a quiet kid named Max, spoke up. "Hey, Ender, I'm sorry about your mom," Max said. "But I'm glad you're telling us about it. It helps us understand you better." The group nodded in agreement, and Ender felt a surge of happiness. He realized that he had made the right decision in sharing his mom's story. For the rest of the day, Ender felt a sense of freedom that he hadn't felt in a long time. He knew that he still had challenges ahead of him, but with his friends by his side, he felt like he could face anything. As he walked home from school, Ender couldn't help but feel grateful for his mom, and for the love and support that they shared.