"Fractured Reality"

Ashley lay in her hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as the same thoughts swirled in her mind, consuming her. The diagnosis had come as a shock - PTSD, caused by the traumatic accident that had taken Ryan's life. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, "It's not uncommon for people to experience delayed reactions to trauma, and in your case, it's manifesting as physical symptoms." But nothing could have prepared her for the bombshell that was about to drop. Erica sat beside her, holding her hand, trying to offer what little comfort she could. The social worker, who had been quietly observing from the corner of the room, cleared her throat to get their attention. "Ashley, I need to talk to you about something," she said gently. Ashley's eyes slowly turned towards her, her expression a mix of apathy and curiosity. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The social worker took a deep breath before speaking. "The doctor just called, and... well, we've confirmed that you're pregnant." The room fell silent, as if time itself had frozen. Ashley's eyes widened, her mind reeling with the news. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, all the air sucked out of her. Ryan was gone, and she was alone, carrying his child. The weight of her grief threatened to crush her, and she felt herself spiraling out of control. Erica's grip on her hand tightened, as if trying to anchor her to reality. "Ashley, I'm here for you," she whispered, her voice trembling. But Ashley couldn't respond. She was lost in a sea of emotions, unable to process the news. Ryan's face flashed before her eyes, his smile, his laughter, his loving gaze. She remembered the night they had conceived this child, the passion, the love, the joy. And now, he was gone, and she was left to face this new reality alone. The tears she had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her face as she wept uncontrollably. Erica pulled her into a tight hug, trying to comfort her, but Ashley felt like she was drowning in her sorrow. She was pregnant, and Ryan was never coming back. The thought was too much to bear. As the tears continued to flow, Ashley's mind wandered to the future, to the life growing inside her. What would this child mean for her? How would she raise it without Ryan? The questions swirled in her mind, but for now, she just lay there, surrounded by her sister's tears and her own grief, trying to come to terms with this new, fractured reality.