A Moment of Joy

As Ashley sat with Ender, basking in the warmth of their quiet moment together, she suddenly had an idea. "Hey, Ender, do you want to play a word game with Mama?" she asked, trying to gauge his interest. Ender's eyes lit up, and he began to stim, his hands wiggling in the air as he made happy sounds. He pointed to the bookshelf, and Ashley smiled, understanding that he wanted to play. Ashley pulled out a few of Ender's favorite books, and they began to flip through the pages, pointing to pictures and naming objects. Ender babbleed excitedly, trying to say the words, but only a few were clear. "Ball!" he exclaimed, pointing to a picture of a ball. Ashley smiled, encouraging him. "That's right, baby! The ball is red." As they played, Ender's energy grew, and he began to get up and move around the room. He suddenly dropped the book and ran to Ashley, throwing his arms around her legs. "Mamma! Mama!" he exclaimed, looking up at her with big, brown eyes. Ashley laughed, scooping him up into a hug. Just then, Franklin, who had been sleeping on his cushion, suddenly perked up and ran over to join in on the fun. He licked Ender's face, making him giggle. Ender wrapped his arms around Franklin's neck, holding him close. Ashley smiled, watching as her son and dog played together. As they played, Ashley felt a sense of joy wash over her. This was what she had been missing – the simple moments of happiness with her son. She realized that she had been so focused on the court case and the stress that came with it that she had forgotten to enjoy the little things. As they continued to play, Ashley's phone rang, breaking the spell. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should answer it, but something about the ringtone seemed to bring her back to reality. She gently pried Ender off Franklin and set him down on the floor. "I'll get it, baby," she said, trying to sound calm. Ender looked up at her, his eyes searching for reassurance. Ashley smiled and handed him a toy. "It's okay, Ender. Mama will be right back." She walked over to the counter and picked up her phone, her heart sinking as she saw the name on the screen – her lawyer, calling to discuss the upcoming court case. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the conversation ahead.