A New Reality Unfolds

As they walked home, the silence between them was palpable, with Ender's sullen mood weighing heavily on Ashley's and Ethan's minds. They exchanged worried glances, but neither of them knew how to break the ice. Once they arrived home, Ethan suggested, "Hey, how about we get some ice cream? My treat." Ender's expression didn't change, but Ashley noticed a slight flicker of interest in his eyes. "Yeah, okay," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. At the ice cream parlor, they let Ender choose his favorite flavor, and as they sat down at a small table, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her. This was a familiar ritual, one that they had shared many times before, but today it felt different. Today, it felt like a distraction from the elephant in the room. As they licked their ice cream cones, Ethan cleared his throat, his eyes locked on Ender's. "Ender, we need to talk about something," he said, his voice gentle but serious. Ashley took a deep breath, her heart racing with anticipation. She had been dreading this conversation, but she knew it was inevitable. "Ender, you know how we've been feeling a little stressed out lately?" Ashley started, trying to gauge Ender's reaction. Ender's eyes narrowed, his expression cautious. "Yeah...I guess so." Ethan put down his cone and took Ashley's hand, his eyes never leaving Ender's face. "Well, there's a reason for that. Ashley and I...we're having a baby." The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Ender's expression didn't change. Then, his eyes widened, and he looked like he had been punched in the gut. "A baby?" he repeated, his voice shaking. "You're...you're having a baby?" Ashley nodded, feeling a mix of emotions: guilt, anxiety, but also excitement and joy. "Yes, we are. We're really happy, and we wanted to share it with you." Ender's face fell, and he looked away, his eyes welling up with tears. Ashley's heart broke, and she felt a pang of regret for not telling him sooner. "I'm sorry, Ender," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We should have told you sooner. We just...we didn't know how." Ender didn't respond, his body shaking with sobs. Ethan pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly as Ashley joined in, trying to comfort her son in this moment of uncertainty. As they hugged, Ashley knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one that would be filled with challenges and changes, but also with love and growth.