A Mother's Strength

As Ashley held Ender close, trying to calm herself down, he suddenly wriggled free from her hug and ran to his toy chest in the corner of the room. He rummaged through it, his little hands searching for something, and then pulled out his favourite toy, a worn-out teddy bear named Mr. Whiskers. Ender ran back to Ashley, holding the teddy bear tightly in his arms. "Mommy, it's okay," he said, his voice filled with determination, as he pressed the teddy bear into Ashley's hands. "Here, Mommy, it's okay." Ashley took the teddy bear, feeling a lump form in her throat as she looked at Ender's concerned face. She hugged him tightly, tears still streaming down her face. "Thank you, baby," she said, her voice shaking. "You're always taking care of me, aren't you?" Alex watched the scene unfold, his eyes filled with warmth. He knew that Ender was a special child, and his love and support for Ashley were a reminder of the strength and resilience of their little family. As Ashley hugged Ender and Mr. Whiskers, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. She looked up at Alex, her eyes red-rimmed but determined. "I'll do it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll get through this treatment, and I'll perform at the Grammy's. I promise." Alex nodded, a small smile on his face. "I know you will, Ash. We'll get through this together." Ender, sensing that his work was done, climbed onto Ashley's lap and snuggled into her chest, Mr. Whiskers still clutched in her hand. Ashley stroked his hair, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. As they sat there, Alex pulled out his phone and dialled a number. "Hey, Rachel? It's Alex. I need you to look into some additional support for Ashley during the tour. We need to make sure she's taken care of." Ashley looked up at Alex, her eyes questioning, but he just smiled and mouthed "it's okay". As the three of them sat there, wrapped in a warm and comforting silence, Ashley knew that she was not alone. She had Ender, Alex, and a whole team of people who cared about her and wanted to help her through this difficult time. And with that knowledge, she felt a sense of strength and determination that she had not felt in weeks.