**Chemotherapy's Toll**

Two weeks had passed since Ashley's diagnosis, and her world had been turned upside down. The initial shock had worn off, replaced by a harsh reality: she was about to start chemotherapy. Dominic had been her rock, supporting her through every step of the process, but even his presence couldn't shield her from the brutal side effects of the treatment. As she lay in her hospital bed, Ashley stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind numb from the constant barrage of medication. The doctor had warned her about the nausea, the fatigue, and the hair loss, but nothing could have prepared her for the overwhelming sense of weakness that had taken over her body. The first round of chemo had been a disaster. Ashley had been sick for days, unable to keep even water down. She had lost her appetite, and the thought of food made her stomach turn. Dominic had tried to be supportive, but she could see the worry etched on his face. He was scared, and she couldn't blame him. Ashley's anger and frustration boiled over as she thought about her career, her passion, her life. She was a performer, a dancer, a singer. She was used to being on stage, to making people smile, to bringing joy to others. But now, she couldn't even get out of bed without feeling like she was going to throw up. "Why can't I just be strong?" she whispered to Dominic, her voice shaking with rage and despair. "Why can't I just get through this?" Dominic sat beside her, his hand gently stroking her hair. "You are strong, Ashley," he said softly. "You're just...sick. It's not your fault." But Ashley knew it was her fault. She felt like she was failing herself, like she was letting everyone down. She couldn't perform, she couldn't dance, she couldn't even take care of herself. The thought was suffocating. As the days turned into a blur of medication and hospital visits, Ashley's anger turned inward. She began to berate herself, to wonder if she had been foolish to think she could beat this thing. She felt like she was losing herself, like she was disappearing into the darkness of her illness. Dominic tried to reassure her, to tell her that she was still the same person, that she was still strong and beautiful and talented. But Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that she was broken, that she was no longer the person she used to be. As she drifted off to sleep, Ashley's mind was a jumble of emotions, her body weak and exhausted. She knew she had a long road ahead of her, but she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find her way back to the stage, to the spotlight, to the person she once was.