**Blood on the Stage**

Ashley's vision began to blur as she stumbled through her set, the bright lights of the Troubadour piercing through her like a thousand knives. She could feel the warmth of her blood spreading down her legs, a stark contrast to the chill of fear that was slowly creeping up her spine. The crowd was a sea of faces, all cheering and clapping, but Ashley felt like she was drowning in a nightmare. As she reached the end of her second song, Ashley's body began to betray her. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she stumbled backwards, the mic still clutched in her hand. The crowd gasped in shock, and Dave rushed to her side, his face etched with concern. "Ashley, oh my god, are you okay?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd. Ashley tried to nod, but her head spun, and she felt herself falling. She landed hard on the stage, the mic slipping from her grasp. The crowd erupted into chaos, some people screaming, others rushing to her side. Dave's face was inches from hers, his eyes filled with panic. "Ashley, we need to get you to the hospital. Now." Ashley tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. "The...the set...I have to finish..." Dave shook his head, his voice firm. "No, Ashley. You're done. We're getting you help." As Dave scooped her up in his arms, Ashley caught a glimpse of the crowd, their faces a blur of concern and confusion. She saw the indie band she was opening for, their lead singer looking on in shock. The next thing Ashley knew, she was being rushed out of the Troubadour, the bright lights of the stage giving way to the dark of the night. She was loaded into a car, and Dave was driving her to the hospital, his hands shaking as he gripped the wheel. Ashley closed her eyes, feeling the weight of her world crashing down around her. She had lost her baby, and she had lost control. The music that had once been her everything now seemed hollow and meaningless. As the car screeched to a halt outside the hospital, Ashley felt a sense of numbness wash over her. She was rushed inside, and the doctors and nurses swarmed around her, their faces a blur of concern and compassion. Ashley lay on the hospital bed, her body weak and her heart heavy. She knew that her life would never be the same again. The music that had once defined her was now just a distant memory, a reminder of a time when she was carefree and whole. As the doctor's words washed over her, Ashley felt a sense of grief wash over her. She had lost a part of herself, and she didn't know if she would ever be able to find it again. The only thing she knew was that she had to find a way to heal, to move forward, and to rediscover the music that had once been her everything.