Struggling to Keep Up

A few days had passed since the chaotic evening that had left Ashley shaken, and Avan had since departed on another work trip, leaving her to care for Alex on her own. As she looked in the mirror, Ashley barely recognized the person staring back at her. Her 20-week pregnancy was starting to show, and she felt exhausted, pale, and drained of energy. The dark circles under her eyes seemed to be getting darker, and her skin looked dull and tired. Despite her exhaustion, Ashley knew she had to tackle the grocery shopping. She had been putting it off for days, but she couldn't avoid it any longer. She took a deep breath, gathered her things, and set out to the store with Alex in tow. As they walked to the car, Ashley felt a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that Alex hated shopping, and she braced herself for the tantrums that were sure to come. As they entered the store, Alex's eyes widened in protest. "I don't wanna go shopping, Mommy!" he wailed, his small body stiffening in resistance. Ashley tried to reason with him, but Alex was having none of it. He began to pull and tug on her hand, trying to get her to take him out of the store. Ashley sighed, feeling her own frustration growing. She was tired, and she just wanted to get the shopping done so she could go home and rest. But Alex was relentless. He threw himself on the floor, kicking and screaming, as Ashley tried to pick him up. "I hate shopping, Mommy!" he shouted, his face red with rage. Ashley felt her own emotions begin to fray. She was so tired of feeling like she was alone in all of this. She and Avan were married, but sometimes it felt like they were just two separate entities, living parallel lives. As she stood there, trying to coax Alex off the floor, Ashley felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She missed Avan, and she wished he was there to help her. She felt like she was drowning in the responsibilities of caring for Alex and the baby, and she didn't know how much more she could take. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ashley managed to corral Alex into the shopping cart, and they made their way through the store, Alex's tantrums and protests punctuating their journey. Ashley felt like she was just going through the motions, her body and mind numb with exhaustion. As they checked out, Ashley couldn't help but feel like she was failing. She was a wife, a mother, and a pregnant woman, and she felt like she was barely holding it together. She paid for their groceries, and then she and Alex made their way back to the car, both of them silent and defeated. The drive home was a blur, Ashley's mind preoccupied with thoughts of Avan, and how much she wished he was there to help her. She knew he was working hard to provide for their family, but sometimes it felt like he was a million miles away. As she pulled into the driveway, Ashley felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was home, and she could finally rest. But as she looked over at Alex, who was quietly staring out the window, Ashley knew that she couldn't give up. She had to keep going, no matter how hard it got. She took a deep breath, and turned off the engine, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.