I rushed up the steps, with every leap a sob broke free echoing off the walls beside me. As I reached my room I slammed the door shut fling myself into the darkness onto my bed landing with a thud.

“Ouch” I quickly realized that I had landed on someone. Picking myself up I swiftly turned on the lamp on my night table, illuminating the room with light. My eyes quickly adjusted to the brightness.

“ASHELY” I say probably a little too loud.

“Ya Blondie it’s me, I’m a person too you know you can’t just go around beating on me” she joked rubbing her side

“Sorry”

“Hey I was just kidding” she replies moving around the bed to stand closer to me.

“I…I thought you left what are you still doing here?”

“I would have felt bad if I left, I figure this was your room since it has all of the soccer stuff. Hey what’s wrong?” Ashley places her hand under my chin lifting my head up to look me in the eyes

“Hey why are you crying baby” she pulls me close with her arms around me rubbing my lower back. I just shook my head back and forth I didn’t feel like talking right now, I just wanted to sleep I felt drained.

“Ok just come lay down with me” she said while rubbing my tears away with the pads of her thumbs. Ashley laid down first on her back and I didn’t hesitate to follow laying half on top of her curled up to her side, with my head resting in the crook of her neck.

“I’m not too heavy am I; I don’t want to hurt your ribs even more”

“No worries your fine I’m not as fragile as I appear. So I guess I can stay until you fall asleep” Ashley stated running her fingers through my hair which was causing a soothing sensation. I shook my head in the negative.

“Please stay I don’t want to wake up alone.”

“I’ll see what I can do” she responded pulling my body even tighter to her own giving me a loving kiss on the top of my head. I drifted off into an uneasy sleep with the faint sound of Ashley humming her favorite melody.