A Long Day's Journey

Ashley walked into work, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloping her as she prepared for another long day ahead. She stood behind the counter, her eyes scanning the bustling cafe as customers yelled their orders at her. Some of them were rude, their voices raised in annoyance as they waited for their coffee or pastries. Ashley tried to maintain a smile, but it was getting harder by the minute. One customer, a middle-aged woman with a scowl on her face, yelled at Ashley for getting her order wrong. "I asked for no cream, and you put cream in my coffee!" she complained to the boss, who apologized profusely and offered her a remake. Ashley felt a twinge of frustration, but she bit her tongue and moved on to the next customer. The hours dragged on, and Ashley's feet ached as she moved between the counter and the kitchen. She was relieved when the lunch rush subsided, and the cafe grew quieter. As the clock struck 5 pm, Ashley clocked out and headed to Ender's daycare to pick him up. As she walked into the daycare, Ender's eyes lit up, and he ran to her, tears streaming down his face. "Mommy!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her. Ashley felt a pang of guilt for leaving him all day, but she knew she didn't have a choice. She had to work to provide for him and her mother. She hugged Ender tightly, trying to comfort him. "I'm here now, baby. Let's go home." As they walked out of the daycare, Ashley felt a sense of dread wash over her. She had to pick up her mother's medicine, and then they had to go grocery shopping. The pharmacy was a short walk from the daycare, and Ashley's heart sank as she saw the total for her mother's medicine: $200 more than she could afford. She hesitated, wondering how she would make ends meet, but she had no choice. She paid for the medicine and then headed to the grocery store. The shopping trip was a struggle, as Ashley tried to scrape together enough money for the bare minimum of groceries. Ender begged for a tiny car toy, and Ashley's heart ached as she had to say no. She promised him she would try to get it for him soon, but for now, they had to prioritize. As they walked home, Ashley felt exhausted. She had to take care of her mother, and then she had to get Ender ready for bed. When they arrived home, Ashley helped her mother with her tube feed, gave her medication, and made her a sandwich. She changed her mother's clothes and sat with her for a while, trying to make her comfortable. After that, Ashley turned her attention to Ender, feeding him a simple dinner and getting him into his pajamas. They played board games together, and Ender's laughter filled the room. As the evening drew to a close, Ashley realized that there wasn't enough food for her to eat. She sighed, feeling a pang of hunger, and went to bed early. But she wasn't able to sleep. Her mother's voice called out to her, "Ashley, I need water." Ashley got out of bed and attended to her mother's needs, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her. She knew she had to keep going, no matter how hard things got. As she sat with her mother, trying to keep her comfortable, Ashley felt a sense of determination rise up within her. She would find a way to make things work, for Ender's sake, for her mother's sake, and for her own.