"Fractured Reality"

A few days had passed since Ashley's last performance, and she had retreated to her home in New Jersey, seeking solace in the familiar surroundings. Jagger, her loyal companion, was by her side as she wandered around the house, trying to clear her mind. The memories of her recent seizures still lingered, and Ashley couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. As she entered the living room, Ashley's gaze fell upon the piano, an instrument that had been her confidant and creative outlet for years. She walked over to it, feeling a sudden thirst, and grabbed a bottle of water from the nearby table. Taking a sip, she sat down on the stool, her fingers hovering over the keys. But before she could even begin to play, her body betrayed her. As she leaned back, her head collided with the piano, and Ashley felt a searing pain shoot through her skull. She tried to speak, but her words were muffled as her body began to convulse. She felt herself seizing, her muscles tensing and relaxing in a rhythmic pattern. Blood poured from her nose, and a clear liquid trickled from her mouth, mixing with the blood to create a frothy mess. Ashley's bladder let go, and she felt a warm sensation spreading down her legs. She was vaguely aware of Jagger's frantic barks, his whimpers growing louder as he tried to get to her. But Ashley was beyond responding. She was trapped in a nightmare, her body wracked with convulsions. Just as she thought things couldn't get any worse, Ashley heard a knock on the door. Erica, her friend and confidant, was calling out to her, "Ash, are you okay? I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by." Erica's voice was laced with concern, but Ashley couldn't respond. Jagger's barks grew more frantic, and Erica's knocking became more insistent. "Ash, open up! I'm getting worried." Ashley's vision began to blur, and she felt herself slipping away. She was trapped in a world of chaos, her body failing her at every turn. Erica's voice grew louder, more urgent, as she called out to Ashley. "Ash, I'm coming in! I'm going to come in!" The door creaked open, and Erica rushed in, her eyes scanning the room for Ashley. She spotted her friend slumped over the piano, Jagger whimpering beside her. "Ash, oh my god, Ash!" Erica exclaimed, rushing over to her friend. She gently rolled Ashley onto her side, trying to assess the situation. The sight that greeted her was one of utter chaos – Ashley's face was smeared with blood, her eyes glassy and unfocused. Erica's face contorted with worry as she quickly grabbed her phone to call for help. As she waited for the paramedics to arrive, Erica cradled Ashley's head in her lap, trying to comfort her. "It's going to be okay, Ash. You're going to be okay." But as she looked into Ashley's eyes, she saw a glimmer of fear, a fear that seemed to be growing by the minute. Something was very wrong, and Erica knew that Ashley's world was about to change forever.