"Ashley Frangipane's Constant Storm"

Ashley shuffled her feet on the cold, damp floor, trying to warm them up as she stared out the small window of her bedroom. The grey sky outside seemed to match her mood - dull and lifeless. She loved days like this, though, when she could just zone out and let her mind wander. Her ADHD brain was always jumping from one thought to another, making it hard for her to focus on just one thing. She often got lost in her own thoughts, and it was a relief to escape into her own world. As she gazed out the window, her mind began to drift. She thought about her math test last week, and how she had gotten in trouble for tapping her pen on her desk. She thought about her English essay that was due tomorrow, and how she still hadn't started writing it. She thought about her mom's worn-out coat, and how she wished she could get her a new one for Christmas. Ashley's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her parents arguing downstairs. Their voices were muffled, but the anger and frustration were palpable. Ashley sighed and turned away from the window, her eyes scanning the small, cluttered room she shared with her two younger brothers, Sevian and Dante. The bed, a hand-me-down from her older cousin, was unmade, and clothes were scattered all over the floor. The air was thick with the smell of stale air and yesterday's dinner. Ashley's stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten breakfast. She slipped on her worn-out sneakers, the ones with the holes in the toes, and made her way downstairs. The kitchen was cold, just like the rest of the house, and the only sound was the arguing of her parents. Ashley's heart sank as she realized it was going to be one of those days. Chris, her dad, was yelling at her mom, Nicole, his voice rising above the usual decibel level. Sevian, her 14-year-old brother, was sitting at the kitchen table, his eyes fixed on his phone, trying to ignore the commotion. Dante, her 4-year-old brother, was sitting on the floor, playing with a broken toy, oblivious to the tension in the air. Ashley tried to slip past them unnoticed, but her dad caught her eye. "Ashley, get over here," he barked, his voice stern. Ashley hesitated for a moment before reluctantly walking over to him. "What?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral. "You're late with your chores again," her dad said, his face red with anger. "You're going to have to do them all after school today." Ashley felt a knot form in her stomach. She hated doing chores, and she knew she'd be late getting to school. She also knew that arguing with her dad would only make things worse. As she stood there, trying to think of something to say, Ashley's legs began to fidget. She couldn't sit still, and she couldn't focus. She felt like she was going to explode. Her mom tried to intervene, but her dad just waved her off. "Just let her do her chores, Nicole," he said. "She needs to learn responsibility." Ashley felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why did her dad always have to yell at her? Why couldn't he just be kind and understanding for once? But she knew better than to speak up. She just nodded and turned away, trying to escape the tension in the air. As she walked out of the kitchen, Ashley felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was out of the storm, for now. But she knew it wouldn't last. The storm would always be there, brewing just beneath the surface, waiting to erupt again.