"Fading Light"

Three months had passed since the doctor's dire prognosis, and Ashley's world had shrunk to a single, focal point: her mother's hospital room. She sat beside her, holding her frail hand, as the machines surrounding them beeped and whirred, monitoring the fragile thread of life that still clung to her mother's body. The once vibrant woman, who had been Ashley's rock, her guiding light, was now a shadow of her former self. Ashley's eyes wandered to the nurses' station, where Ender sat, his small body squirming with excitement as he colored a picture with one of the nurses. He was being well taken care of, but Ashley's heart ached with guilt for not being able to be there for him, to comfort him, to reassure him that everything would be okay. But for now, she had to be here, for her mother. She squeezed her mother's hand gently, trying to infuse her with some of her own strength, some of her own will to live. Her mother's eyes, sunken and weak, fluttered open, and Ashley saw a glimmer of recognition, a spark of love that still burned bright. "Ash...ley," her mother whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm here, Mom," Ashley replied, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm right here." Her mother's gaze drifted to Ender, who was laughing with the nurse, and a faint smile played on her lips. "Ender...?" she whispered. Ashley nodded, trying to keep her composure. "He's fine, Mom. He's being taken care of. He's strong, just like you." Her mother's eyes refocused on Ashley, and she saw a deep sadness, a sense of regret, and a longing to hold on, to stay with her daughter, to see Ender grow up. As the machines continued to beep, and the nurses moved quietly around the room, Ashley felt her mother's hand relax in hers, felt her grip weaken. She held on tighter, trying to will her mother's life force to stay, to linger. "Don't go, Mom," Ashley whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Please, don't go." But it was too late. Her mother's body began to still, her chest rising and falling with shallower and shallower breaths. Ashley felt a cold dread creeping up her spine, a sense of loss and grief that threatened to consume her. As the nurse rushed over to attend to her mother, Ashley felt Ender's eyes on her, felt his small body watching her from across the room. She knew she had to be strong, for him, for her mother, for herself. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the pain that was to come, and whispered a silent promise to her mother: "I'll take care of him, Mom. I promise."