A New Step Forward

As Ashley watched Ender play on the swings, she made up her mind to take a step forward and clear the air about her relationship with Avan. She pulled out her phone and began to type out a text message, her fingers trembling slightly with anticipation. "Hey Avan, I was thinking...I'd love for you to meet Ender this weekend. Would that work for you?" She hesitated for a moment before hitting send, wondering if she was moving too fast. As she waited for a response, Ashley couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Excitement and nervousness battled it out inside her, making her stomach twist with anxiety. What if Avan said no? What if he wasn't ready to meet Ender? The thought sent a pang of disappointment through her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the present moment. Ender, oblivious to his mother's inner turmoil, continued to play, laughing and shouting with the other kids on the playground. Ashley smiled, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for her little boy. She was doing this for him, and for herself, to take a chance on happiness. As she waited for Avan's response, Ashley's eyes wandered around the park, taking in the sights and sounds of children playing and parents chatting. The sun shone down on them, casting a warm glow over everything. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, creating a soothing background noise. A few minutes passed, and Ashley's phone buzzed with an incoming text. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message: "I'd love to meet Ender! This weekend sounds perfect. What did you have in mind?" Ashley's face broke out into a wide smile as she read the words, feeling a sense of relief and excitement. She quickly typed out a response, "How about Saturday? We could meet for brunch and then head to the children's museum. Ender loves it there." She hit send, waiting anxiously for Avan's response. The reply came a minute later, "Sounds like a great plan! What time for brunch?" Ashley's heart was racing now, as she typed out a response, "How about 10 am at that new café downtown?" As she waited for Avan's confirmation, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and excitement. This was it, a new step forward, and she was ready to take it. The response came a few minutes later, "10 am at the café sounds perfect. I'm looking forward to meeting Ender on Saturday." Ashley felt a sense of joy and anticipation wash over her as she read the message. She couldn't wait to see how Ender and Avan would get along, and to take things to the next level in their relationship. With a newfound sense of purpose, Ashley turned her attention back to Ender, who was now climbing up the ladder of the slide. "Ready to go, buddy?" she asked, smiling. Ender nodded, and together they made their way to the slide, ready to take on the rest of the day.