A Moment of Normalcy
Part 3
Ender ate his pancakes happily, the syrup dripping down his chin as he giggled and chattered about Franklin's antics. Ashley sat beside him, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The chemotherapy was taking its toll, and she couldn't shake off the nausea that had become her constant companion. She forced a smile onto her face, not wanting to ruin the peaceful morning they were having. As they finished their breakfast, Ashley's mind began to wander to the upcoming visit from her grandmother. She had been putting it off for weeks, but it was finally next week, and Ashley was dreading it. She wasn't sure how she would face her grandmother's questions and concerns, not with the treatment and the uncertainty that came with it. "Grandma's coming to visit next week," Ashley said, trying to sound casual. Ender's face lit up, and he cheered, "Yay! Grandma!" He jumped up from his seat and ran to the living room, shouting, "Dante! Dante!" - his favorite game. Ashley nodded, smiling weakly. She was glad that Ender was excited, but she couldn't help feeling anxious about the visit. As Ender returned to the kitchen, he looked up at Ashley with curiosity in his eyes. "Mommy, what's on your chest?" he asked, pointing at her chemo port. Ashley looked down, feeling a surge of panic. She had been hoping to avoid this conversation, but it seemed inevitable. "Oh, it's just a bandaid," she said, trying to brush it off. Ender looked at her skeptically, his eyes narrowing. "What's it for?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. Ashley hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't want to burden Ender with the details, but she also didn't want to lie to him. "It's just something that helps me feel better," she said, trying to downplay it. Ender looked at her uncertainly, but he didn't press the issue. Ashley breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she had managed to deflect the conversation. But she knew that this wasn't the end of it. Eventually, she would have to tell Ender the truth, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for that.