"Crashing Down"

The fluorescent lights above seemed to hum louder, casting an unforgiving glare over the social worker's office. Ashley's eyes were fixed on Officer Johnson, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where will I go?" she asked, tears rolling down her cheeks. Officer Johnson's expression remained stern, but a hint of compassion flickered in his eyes. "You'll be taken into custody and transported to the county jail. You'll need to report there tomorrow morning at 9 am sharp." Ashley's breath caught in her throat as she processed the news. "When will I be arrested?" she asked, her voice trembling. Karen stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "We'll give you until tomorrow morning to get your affairs in order. You'll be allowed to stay in your home overnight, but you'll need to report to the jail by 9 am." Ashley's thoughts swirled as she struggled to come to terms with her situation. She felt like her life was spiraling out of control, and she was powerless to stop it. "Will I be able to go to my mom's funeral?" she asked, her voice cracking. Officer Johnson's expression softened slightly. "We'll work with the funeral home to ensure that you're able to attend your mother's services. But, Ashley, you need to understand that you'll be in custody, and you'll have to follow the rules." As he spoke, Ashley felt a panic attack rising up inside her. Her chest constricted, and her breathing became shallow. She was 19 years old, and her life was messed up. She had lost her mother, and now she was facing prison time. The thought was overwhelming, and Ashley felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. Ender, sensing her distress, whimpered in her arms, and Ashley's grip on him tightened. She looked down at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "What about Ender?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who will take care of him?" Karen's expression was sympathetic. "We'll work with the foster care system to find a suitable placement for Ender. He'll be taken care of, Ashley, but you need to focus on getting your life back on track." Ashley's heart broke at the thought of being separated from her son. She felt like she was losing everything that mattered, and she didn't know how to stop it. The officer's stern look seemed to blur as tears streamed down her face, and Ashley felt like she was crashing down, her world shattering into a million pieces.