A Desperate Attempt at Calm

Ashley knew she had to act fast, or risk losing her mind. She took a deep breath, and with a surge of adrenaline, she picked Alex up, cradling him in her arms despite his struggles. She ignored his kicks and punches, focusing on getting him to his room. As she walked, Alex's sobs slowly began to subside, replaced by sniffles and hiccups. Ashley gently placed him on his bed, and turned on his nightlight, the soft glow illuminating his tear-stained face. She pulled the blankets up to his chin, and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I'm sorry, baby," she whispered, her voice hoarse from shouting. "Let's just calm down, okay?" Alex nodded, his eyes still red and puffy, but his body slowly relaxing. Ashley closed the door behind her, and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She made her way to the bathroom, her hand instinctively going to her stomach. She had taken a hit, and she was worried about the baby. She looked down, hoping to feel some movement, some sign that everything was okay. As she stood there, Avan walked into the bathroom, his eyes scanning her face. "Ashley," he said, his voice soft with concern. "Are you okay?" Ashley looked up at him, her eyes flashing with anger and frustration. "No, I'm not okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was trying to calm Alex down, and you just stood there, doing nothing." Avan looked down, his face sheepish. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know what to do." Ashley sighed, her anger dissipating slightly. She knew Avan wasn't a natural with kids, but this was their son, and he needed to step up. She looked back down at her stomach, hoping to feel the baby kick, to know that everything was okay. And then, like on cue, she felt it - a small flutter, a gentle movement that made her smile. She looked up at Avan, her eyes shining with tears. "The baby's okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Avan looked at her, his eyes filled with relief. "Thank God," he said, taking a step closer to her. Ashley felt a lump form in her throat as Avan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. For a moment, they just stood there, holding each other, trying to process the chaos that had just erupted in their lives.