Chapter 3: "The Unending Cycle"

As Ashley sat with her mother at 4am, she felt her eyelids growing heavy, her body sinking into the couch as exhaustion took its toll. She tried to stay awake, fighting against the pull of sleep, but it was no use. Her mother's fragile form seemed to be surrounded by an aura of vulnerability, and Ashley felt a surge of responsibility to be there for her. Just as she was starting to drift off, her mother's voice cut through the silence. "Ashley... pain medication," she whispered, her voice weak but insistent. Ashley sprang into action, quickly getting up to fetch the medication from the kitchen. She helped her mother with the pills, then got her comfortable for the day ahead. Before she knew it, the clock had struck 6am, and Ashley was scrambling to get everything done. She quickly made her mother's breakfast, a simple bowl of oatmeal with fruit, and helped her eat it. She then turned her attention to getting Ender ready for the day. She fed him a quick breakfast, dressed him in the clothes she had laid out the night before, and gave him a quick hug. As she rushed out the door with Ender, Ashley felt a pang of guilt. She knew he was going to cry, and she didn't want to leave him. But she had to get to work, and she couldn't be late. She dropped him off at daycare, and as she walked away, she heard his small voice calling out for her. The sound of his tears followed her as she walked to work, and Ashley felt a lump form in her throat. She was already weak from lack of food, and the thought of facing another long day at the cafe was daunting. As she stood behind the counter, customers began to shout their orders at her, and Ashley rushed around, trying to keep up. The chaos was overwhelming, and Ashley felt like she was drowning in a sea of caffeine-fueled chatter and clinking cups. She moved on autopilot, her feet aching as she rushed from one task to the next. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, but it was no longer a comforting scent. Instead, it seemed to heighten Ashley's sense of exhaustion and desperation. As the morning wore on, Ashley's body began to feel like it was running on empty. She was hungry, tired, and feeling increasingly overwhelmed. She wondered how she was going to make it through the day, and whether she would be able to find a way out of this unending cycle of struggle and hardship.