A Mother's Resolve

Ashley stepped out of Karen's office, her mind racing with thoughts of her children. Her eyes seemed to glaze over as she walked down the hallway, her feet carrying her on autopilot. She felt like she was walking through a nightmare, with no escape in sight. The sound of her own voice, barely above a whisper, echoed in her mind - "I'm fine, really... I just had a bit of an accident." As she reached her car, she stopped and took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs. She thought about Jackson, her 5-year-old son with autism. He was her world, and she was all he knew. The thought of him being taken away from her was unbearable. The memory of the bruises on her arm, and Karen's concerned expression, flashed before her eyes. She knew she had to be strong, for Jackson's sake. Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about the possibility of losing her son to CPS. She had always been a good mom, taking care of Jackson's every need, getting him to school every day, making sure he was safe and happy. And now, with a new baby on the way, she felt like her whole world was crumbling around her. She looked down at her stomach, feeling a surge of determination. She was going to be a mom again, and she was going to do everything in her power to keep her children safe and with her. She thought about all the times she had taken Jackson to school, all the times she had helped him with his homework, all the times she had comforted him when he was scared or hurt. She was his rock, his safe haven. Ashley's eyes flashed with a fierce determination. She was not going to lose her son. She was not going to let CPS take him away from her. She was a good mom, and she was going to prove it. She thought back to Karen's words - "I'm here for you, Ashley. Always." She knew she had someone to turn to, someone who cared. She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of resolve wash over her. She was going to get Jackson to school every day, no matter what. She was going to take care of him, and the new baby, and she was going to do it all on her own. She was going to prove to herself, and to everyone else, that she was a capable and loving mother. As she got into her car and started the engine, Ashley felt a sense of determination that she hadn't felt in a long time. She was going to fight for her children, and she was going to win. Tears streamed down her face as she drove away, but this time, they were tears of determination and resolve. She was not going to give up. She was going to keep her children safe, no matter what it took. The sound of the radio filled the car, but Ashley's mind was elsewhere. She was already planning, thinking about how she was going to keep her children safe, how she was going to prove to everyone that she was a good mom. She was going to do it, no matter what.