Ashley looked like the ghost of her former self, she had not left the house for days or done anything. She had on a big grey basketball polo with black and white checkered baggy pants that hung low on her waist. Her hair was messy and unruly, she had dark circles around her eyes, her lips were dried. There were tears streaks on her face. She found her mother on the other end as soon as she opened the door of her room. "What are you doing here?” she asked surprisingly. Vera took a long look at her. “Look at you Ashley, you look like hell!” “Woah! Mother, thank you for the compliment" She proceeded to walk away but Vera stood in front of her obstructing her. “You know that is not what I mean at all, I am sure you know that" she explained. “It is just, the only time I saw you like this was when you lost your father. I understood how much you were hurting then. Seeing you now I know she must have meant so much to you. I wish I had met her before she passed on...” “What is the point o

Henry reached for his side stool for a glass of water, only to find the jar empty. He hissed in anger, he hated the state he was in. He hated the fact that he was dependent on everyone for little things. He had refused the services of a nurse to help him and had insisted on handling his business by himself because he was strong-headed. He reached for the crutches by his bedpost and tried to lift himself before Angela stopped him. “Henry, do not do that please...” He peered at her. “I need to get something" She shook her head. “You don’t have to do anything. That’s why I am here, that’s why the maids are here, what do you need?” “You know I am not an invalid right?” She nodded with a wide smile on her face. “I know that Henry, what do you want?” “A glass of water" She nodded. Henry was consumed by his thoughts when she left the room. Angela had been a completely different person, it was like whatever animosity they had for each other disappeared suddenly. She had cared for him a

“Miss Ashley?” a maid's head popped through the doors. “Yes" “The hosts have asked you to join them for dinner this evening" She frowned. "Really?” “Yes, dinner would be ready in twenty minutes" When she entered the dining room, she found Henry Allen sitting at the head of the table alone. Two maids and a servant dressed in black and white stood behind him, their heads bowed, she halted. “Come on in, come sit with me" he invited her. However it didn’t sound like an invitation to her, there was an underlying threat in his voice. “I am full...” “You have not had anything to eat at all” he interjected. “If you insist” “I insist" he smiled. His smile was unnerving She walked towards him, suddenly the distance between the door and the dining room felt like a mile away. She opted for a chair where she wouldn’t be face to face with him but he pointed out a chair where she was directly in front of him, she looked everywhere else but at him. She couldn’t figure out what was going on

It had been a spontaneous decision to prepare dinner. Now that she thought about it for a second time, she didn’t understand why she was preparing dinner. Quite true, all the maids were out save for a few security officials. Angela was not home and Ashley doubted she could handle a kitchen. Asides the fact that she didn’t care for her family, she didn’t look like she could do anything. Asher sat in his baby walker beside her as she worked. She flipped the steak in a pan and placed it in a large serving bowl. She brought out the baked potatoes from the oven with a towel and placed them on another plate. There was a chip and tomato sauce dip as an appetiser. She laid out the dinner table, the bell rang startling her. She almost threw the bowl of chips in her hands. She took a deep breath and steadied herself before she walked towards the door. It was when she got to the door that it occurred to her that she hadn’t considered that it could be Angela on the other end. She hesitantly star

Fresh tears gushed out of her eyes as he zoomed off. It was late and she was stranded. She didn’t know her way from here. The pain in her heart was unbearable, she would never be able to forget the words Leonard had told her. He had never been mean to her like he was today. He had hurt her and it would take a long while to forgive him. The cold air caressed her skin causing her to involuntarily shiver. She picked up her phone and dialled her mother's number but she didn’t pick up. She almost dialled Leonard’s number before she remembered they were supposed to be pissed at each other. She thought about calling Henry but she didn’t want to disturb him. He had been a kind host to her.At that moment an overwhelming feeling of loneliness overshadowed her. She turned on her G****e map and walked towards the main streets, somehow Leonard had driven them to one of the small streets in the city, there were few open shops littered about and only a few people walked by.She thought about callin