"A Mother's Reassurance"

Karen sat Ashley down on the couch, holding her hands in hers. "Ashley, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you," Karen said, her eyes filled with regret. "I feel like I failed you as a mother." Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Karen. "Are you going to send me back to the system?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Karen's expression softened, and she pulled Ashley into a hug. "No, sweetie, no," she said, holding her tightly. "I'm not going to send you anywhere. You're my daughter, and I love you no matter what." Ashley cried, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She had been so scared that Karen would send her back to the foster system, but now she felt safe. Karen pulled back and looked at Ashley, her eyes serious. "Now, let's talk about what's going on," she said. "I know you think you might be pregnant, and we need to get you checked out." Ashley nodded, feeling a surge of fear. She was only 16, and the thought of being a mother was terrifying. Karen smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, sweetie, we'll get through this together," she said. "And to start, I'm going to let you skip school tomorrow. We're going to the doctor to get you checked for a pregnancy." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was scared, but with Karen by her side, she felt like she could face anything. Karen stood up, pulling Ashley up with her. "Let's go get some rest, okay?" she said. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her. She was grateful to have Karen's support, and she knew that she could face whatever came next with her mother's help. As they went to bed, Ashley felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had made a mistake, but with Karen's help, she was determined to make it right.