Surviving on Fumes

Three hours had passed since Ashley had been on her feet, slinging coffee and pastries to the caffeine-starved crowds at the cafe. As her shift finally came to an end, she felt like she was running on empty, her body aching and her mind numb. She trudged out of the cafe, her eyes fixed on the daycare center where Ender was waiting for her. As she walked through the doors, Ender's small face lit up with a smile, and he flung himself into her arms. "Mommy!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled against her shoulder. Ashley could tell he had been crying, and her heart twisted with guilt and love. She held him tightly, trying to absorb some of his distress. "I've got you, baby," she whispered, trying to keep her own emotions in check. "Let's go get some groceries, okay?" Ender nodded, still sniffling, and Ashley led him out of the daycare center and into the bright sunlight. They walked to the nearby store, Ashley's feet aching as she carried Ender's small backpack and tried to corral him as he bounced along beside her. As they entered the store, Ashley's eyes scanned the shelves, taking in the endless rows of food and household items. She knew she had to be strategic with her limited funds, and she quickly made a mental list of the essentials: bread, milk, chicken nuggets. She grabbed a loaf of bread and a pack of frozen chicken nuggets, and made her way to the juice aisle, where she picked up a bottle of apple juice. Ender, meanwhile, had spotted the toy section, and his eyes were fixed longingly on a tiny car with flashing lights and a siren. "Mommy, can I PLEEEEEEase get the car?" he begged, tugging on her hand. Ashley felt a pang of regret, but she knew they couldn't afford it. "Not today, sweetie," she said gently. "We have to get groceries first." Ender's face fell, and he began to cry, his small body shaking with sobs. Ashley tried to comfort him, but he was inconsolable. As they stood there, surrounded by the judging stares of other shoppers, Ashley felt her face heat up with embarrassment and shame. She tried to hurry through the checkout line, but Ender's cries only grew louder, drawing more attention to them. Ashley felt like she was failing as a mother, like she was depriving her child of the simplest pleasures. She paid for their meager groceries and tried to usher Ender out of the store, but he was having none of it. As they walked out into the bright sunlight, Ender still sniffling and clinging to her hand, Ashley felt a wave of despair wash over her. How was she going to make ends meet? How was she going to provide for her child when she was barely scraping by herself? The questions swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling lost and defeated.