A Mother's Farewell

The morning of the funeral had finally arrived, and Ashley felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair. She hadn't slept all night, and her eyes felt dry and gritty from crying nonstop. Her body ached all over, and her mind felt numb. She was a mess, and she knew it. As she stood in front of the mirror, she barely recognized the person staring back at her. Her eyes were sunken, her skin pale, and her hair a tangled mess. Ashley took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, but it was no use. She felt like she was going to collapse at any moment. She looked down at Ender, who was clinging to her leg, his big brown eyes looking up at her with concern. "Okay, baby, Mommy's okay," Ashley whispered, trying to reassure him. But she wasn't okay. She was a wreck. She had lost her job at the marketing firm because she hadn't shown up to work in days. She had no money, no job, and no idea how she was going to take care of Ender. The thought of it all was overwhelming her. As she looked around the room, she saw the funeral arrangements her friends had made. There were flowers everywhere, and a big banner that read "Rest in Peace" with her mother's name on it. Ashley felt a pang of guilt for not being able to do it herself. She was usually the one who took care of everything, but now she was the one who needed help. The doorbell rang, and Ashley knew it was time to go. She took a deep breath, picked up Ender, and made her way to the door. Her friends were waiting for her, and they surrounded her with hugs and tears. "I'm so sorry, Ashley," one of them whispered. "We're here for you, and we'll get through this together." Ashley nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She knew she wasn't alone, and that thought gave her a tiny bit of comfort. As they made their way to the funeral home, Ashley felt like she was walking through a nightmare. She couldn't believe her mother was really gone. She kept expecting her to wake up and smile at her, but deep down, she knew that wasn't going to happen. The funeral was a blur of tears and sadness. Ashley held Ender tight, trying to comfort him as he cried and whispered "Mommy" over and over again. She felt like she was losing her mind, but she knew she had to be strong for Ender's sake. As they stood at the graveside, Ashley felt a cold wind blow through her hair. She shivered, but she didn't let go of Ender. She knew he needed her, and she needed him. As the minister spoke, Ashley's mind wandered. She thought about her mother, and all the memories they had made together. She thought about the future, and how she was going to take care of Ender. She thought about the funeral, and how she was going to pay for it. The thought of it all was overwhelming her. She felt like she was drowning, and she didn't know how to keep her head above water. But as she looked down at Ender, she knew she had to keep going. For him, for her mother, and for herself. As the coffin was lowered into the ground, Ashley felt a sob rise up in her chest. She buried her face in Ender's hair, and let the tears flow. She knew she would get through this, somehow, someway. But for now, she just let the grief wash over her.