"Facing the Unbearable"

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of reality. Ashley sat up, her voice weak but determined. "No, I need to know. I want to know it all. I have a 4-year-old son, and I need to know how long I have left with him." Ashley choked out the words, her voice cracking with emotion. Dr. Thompson's expression was sympathetic, but Ashley could see the hesitation in his eyes. He didn't want to tell her, but she needed to know. Susan held her close, trying to comfort her, but Ashley pulled back, her eyes locked on the doctor. Just then, a commotion came from the kitchen. "Grandma!" a high-pitched voice yelled. Susan's expression changed from concern to exasperation. "Franklin, no! You peed on the floor!" she exclaimed, apologizing to the doctor as she got up to deal with the situation. A moment later, a rambunctious bundle of energy ran into the room. "Ash, Mommy!" a small voice squealed. Ender, Ashley's 4-year-old son, ran to her side, a telltale sign of a recent snack on his face and a popsicle stick in his hand. Ashley quickly wiped her tears and faked a smile, trying to hide her pain from her son. The doctor watched the scene unfold, his expression a mix of sadness and compassion. "I'm so sorry, Ashley," he said, his voice soft. He turned to the kitchen, where Susan was cleaning up the mess. "I'll have a hospice bed and other equipment brought to the house for Ashley," he explained. "A urine catheter and feeding tube will also be necessary. A hospice care team will be assigned to provide around-the-clock care." As the doctor's words hung in the air, Ashley's mind reeled with the reality of her situation. She was going to have to face this new reality with her son by her side. Ender, oblivious to the tension, climbed onto Ashley's lap, his popsicle stick still clutched in his hand. Ashley hugged him close, trying to cherish this moment, no matter how fleeting it might be.