Downward Spiral

A few weeks had passed since Ashley had last felt a sense of hope and normalcy in her life. At the time, she had been enjoying her mother's company, taking care of Paws, and slowly getting back into her routine at school. However, as the days went by, Ashley started to feel restless and disconnected from her responsibilities. She began to act out, missing school and skipping her medication. Her mother tried to intervene, but Ashley was stubborn and refused to listen. As the days turned into weeks, Ashley's behavior continued to deteriorate. She became increasingly irritable and would often lash out at her mother for no reason. Her mother was worried and tried to get Ashley to talk to her about what was going on, but Ashley just shrugged her off. One evening, Ashley walked in the door, her arm wrapped around a tall, lanky guy with a messy mop of hair and a scruffy beard. Her mother was taken aback, shocked to see Ashley with a boyfriend, let alone one who looked like he hadn't showered in weeks. "Ah, Mom, this is Axel," Ashley said, beaming with pride. Axel flashed a charming smile, but her mother wasn't impressed. "Nice to meet you, Axel," she said coolly. As they sat down to dinner, Ashley's mother couldn't help but notice the way Axel was gazing at Ashley, his eyes filled with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. Ashley, on the other hand, seemed completely smitten, giggling and flirting with Axel like she was a different person. As they ate, Ashley's mother tried to make small talk, but it quickly became apparent that Axel was not what she had expected. He was 26, old enough to be Ashley's father, and yet he seemed to be encouraging Ashley's bad behavior. He was constantly whispering in her ear, making her laugh and smile, and Ashley's mother could see the influence he had over her daughter. As the night wore on, Ashley's mother started to notice that Axel seemed...off. His pupils were dilated, and he seemed to be moving with a jittery energy that made her suspect he was on something. And then she saw him slip Ashley a small baggie, which she promptly opened and inhaled. Ashley's mother was horrified. "Ashley, what are you doing?" she demanded, trying to grab the baggie away from her daughter. But it was too late. Ashley was already feeling the effects of the substance, her eyes glazing over as she started to laugh and sway to the music in her head. Axel was smiling, a sly, triumphant smile, and Ashley's mother knew that she had to get him out of her house, and fast. "Ashley, sweetie, I think it's time for Axel to go," she said firmly, trying to guide Ashley away from the table. But Ashley just shook her head, her eyes flashing with defiance. "No, Mom, I'm fine," she slurred, her voice barely intelligible. Axel stood up, his arm around Ashley's waist, and Ashley's mother saw the damage that he had done. She knew that Ashley's schizophrenia was about to go into overdrive, and she was powerless to stop it.