The Unseen Struggle

As Tony sat beside her, Ashley heard the sound of little feet running towards her, and before she could react, Ender had launched himself into her arms. "Mommy!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. Ashley weakly smiled, hugging him tightly, trying to muster up some energy to play along. "Hey, buddy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Tony stood up, a look of understanding on his face, and Ashley took a deep breath, trying to continue the conversation. "I'm fine, really," she said, trying to reassure him. "It's just a flu, that's all." But Ender was not interested in letting the conversation continue. He wriggled out of Ashley's arms and ran back to Tony, his face alight with excitement. "My mommy has a bandaid on her chest," he said, his voice chattering away. "And she gets medicine, it makes her throw up. And her hair is falling out." Ashley's heart sank as she looked at Tony, her eyes locking with his. She knew he knew now. There was no use pretending anymore. Ender's innocent words had blown her cover, and Ashley felt a wave of emotion wash over her. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked at Tony, her face crumbling. Tony's expression was a mix of shock and compassion, and Ashley felt a lump form in her throat. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. Ender, sensing her distress, climbed back into her arms, wrapping his small hands around her neck. "Mommy's okay, sweetie," she whispered, trying to reassure him. But as she looked at Tony, she knew she wasn't okay. She was far from okay. The mask she had been wearing for so long had slipped, and now she was faced with the reality of her situation. Tony sat back down, his eyes never leaving Ashley's face. "Ashley, I had no idea," he said, his voice soft. "Why didn't you tell me?" Ashley shook her head, feeling a sense of shame wash over her. She had been trying to keep it all together, to pretend that everything was fine, but now she realized that she didn't have to do it alone. Tony's kind face and compassionate eyes made her feel like she could trust him, like she could finally let her guard down. But as she looked at Ender, she knew that she wasn't just fighting for herself. She was fighting for her son, for his future, and for the chance to be there for him. The thought gave her the strength to look at Tony, to meet his gaze, and to begin the journey of opening up about her struggles.