Chapter 14: This is madness, dear brother
Ashley's eyes stung with pins at Michelle's words, and she felt a metallic taste flood her mouth. She knew those tears were coming, and she hated it.
She tried to recall the last time someone had spoken to her with such softness and tenderness—it wasn't often.
"We'll do everything to find my great-granddaughter," Michelle promised. "I really wish we found out earlier... about you. And for that, I–I'm sorry." Her eyes held genuine sorrow.
Ashley couldn't hold back the tears any longer, before she knew it, Michelle closed the distance and wrapped her arms around her.
At first, Ashley froze, then slowly relaxed into the warm embrace. They both sobbed in each other's arms, and the whole experience felt strange to Ashley.
Having a shoulder to cry on was a luxury she wasn't quite used to, and Michelle crying alongside her was something she couldn't comprehend. She was used to the harsh reality of staying strong no matter what. She had learned with time that no one cared, except for Maddy then, but she was also gone.
But now...
The more she sobbed into Michelle's shoulders, the lighter she felt. It was as though the weight she'd been carrying for so long was slowly lifting. But she didn't want that at all.
The weight reminded her that she was suffering for being careless with her daughter, and feeling it trying to lift made her heart prick with a larger guilt.