Darkness Descends

Ashley walked through the front door, her heart still heavy from her encounter with Emily. She had been looking forward to coming home, to escaping the pain and sadness that seemed to follow her everywhere. But as she entered the house, she was greeted by her father's angry face. "Ashley, where have you been?" he yelled, his voice booming through the hallway. "You've been out for hours, and I had to make dinner for myself. Again." Ashley felt a familiar knot form in her stomach. She tried to ignore it, to pretend it wasn't there, but it was no use. Her father's words cut deep, and she felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes. "I was just out with friends, Dad," she lied, trying to keep her voice steady. Her father snorted. "Friends? You don't have any friends, Ashley. You're a loner. You're a disappointment." Ashley felt the knot in her stomach tighten, and she knew she had to get out of there. She went to her room, slamming the door behind her, and collapsed onto her bed. The next day, Ashley went to school on autopilot. She felt numb, detached from the world around her. She had had enough. She had had enough of the pain, the sadness, the loneliness. She had a plan, and she was following through. As she walked through the school hallways, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was a false sense of calm, one that she knew would soon give way to a sense of relief. She had made up her mind, and nothing was going to stop her. Ashley pulled out her phone and sent a text to an unknown number. "I'm done," she wrote. "I'll meet you at the old oak tree at 3 pm. Come alone." She hit send, and a sense of peace settled over her. She knew what she was doing, and she was ready. The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ashley went through her classes, her mind elsewhere. She was counting down the minutes until 3 pm, until she could finally escape. As the final bell rang, Ashley felt a sense of excitement mixed with fear. She knew what she was doing, and she was scared. But she was also relieved. She walked out of the school building, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was taking a risk, but she was willing to take it. She was willing to do whatever it took to escape the pain. The old oak tree loomed in the distance, its branches swaying gently in the breeze. Ashley felt a sense of calm wash over her as she approached the tree. She knew she was almost there, almost free. And then, she saw him. A figure standing in the shadows, waiting for her. Ashley's heart skipped a beat as she realized she wasn't alone.