"Descent into Madness"

As Ashley continued to stare at the baby in her arms, Ryan's eyes remained fixed on the road, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. He dialed the police from his phone, trying to explain the situation to the dispatcher. "Hello, I need to report my wife... she's having a mental health episode. She thinks our deceased son has come back to life and she's... she's got someone else's baby in her arms." The dispatcher's voice on the other end was calm and reassuring, but Ryan could sense the concern beneath the surface. "Sir, can you tell me your location? We'll send someone over right away." Ryan provided the address, his eyes flicking to Ashley, who was still lost in her own world. As they pulled up to their house, Ashley suddenly came to life, opening the car door and stepping out onto the driveway. Ryan followed her, his heart sinking as he realized she was heading straight for the house. "Ashley, wait!" he called out, but she didn't respond. She walked into the house, the baby still cradled in her arms, and made a beeline for Theo's nursery. Ryan followed close behind, his anxiety growing with every step. Ashley locked the door behind her, and Ryan could hear her muttering to herself, her voice barely audible. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Ashley, please open the door," he said, his voice laced with worry. But there was no response. He could hear her rocking back and forth, cooing to the baby in her arms. Ryan's phone was still in his hand, and he quickly dialed the police again. "It's me, the husband. She's locked herself in the nursery with... with the baby. I don't know what she's going to do." The dispatcher's voice was calm, but Ryan could sense the urgency beneath the surface. "Sir, help is on the way. Just stay calm and try to talk to her." As he waited, Ryan couldn't help but think about the news reports that were no doubt flooding the airwaves. The worried mother, crying and yelling at the police, looking for Ashley all over TV. He felt a pang of shame and worry, wondering how his life had spiralled out of control so quickly. The sound of sirens echoed through the streets, growing louder with every passing moment. Ryan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew that help was on the way, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was running out of time. Ashley's grip on reality was tenuous at best, and he had no idea what she would do next.