All she has.

Ashley shakes her head, still not believing. She read throughout the letter, again and again, hoping she was just hallucinating but no! It didn't change, nothing changed.

She could feel her heart clenching in her chest. Tears flow down her cheeks like a stream of running water.

She could feel her strength, depleting. She fell to the ground but didn't make a sound.

Ivanna came running, not to comfort her but to check what the letter said.

Jolly was attentive, waiting for what her mom would say.

It was unlike Ashley to look so broken, and that only means nothing wasn't right.

"Mom, what does it say?" Jolly asked Ivanna who didn't move a step and just kept on reading. Her patient was running thin, she walked and took the letter away.

"No! this can be happening right …it's not real, it's not true…tell me it isn't true?" Jolly cries, begging her mom to tell her otherwise.

"It is..our Andriy is gone," Ivanna said, crying.

Ashley who has been silently crying bursts out in tears. Ivanna's words hit the most fragile part of her.

She runs to her room and shuts the door with a loud bang.

"It can't be…no, it can't" she shakes her head in denial wiping on her tears that never stop falling.

"You promised me, and I know you will never break it …I believe you, with everything in me" she picks on their picture together, bringing it to her chest.

"You can't just leave me like that…no you can't…remember, you said together and forever…you promised " She cries. Her heart hurts, everything hurts.

Her happiness has been taken away from her, her husband, and her love. What's there to do? What can she do? She couldn't have a good life, at least having him was worth a gift, but no! They took him away from her, what else do they want?

She cries and cries. The whole house was consumed by sorrowful voices.

It was about closing time for Katie. Ashley knew she had to go pick her up, but she can't let Katie see her like this. What will she think? Katie is a smart type and will understand her mom had been crying.

Bracing herself, she left. Katie stood at the school gate, patiently waiting for her mom.

A smile spread on her lips upon seeing her mom's red car stop before her. She jumps, happy to see her mom again after a long day.

"Mama!!!" She yells and runs to her. Ashley yanks her into her arms, holding her as if never wanting to let go. She was hurt and only her daughter can wipe the pain away.

Her eyes caught sight of a man, huge and tall by the side. She frowns.

"Mister!" Katie calls out to the man by the side, "this is my mama, she's the best mama in the whole wide world" Katie praises.

"Saw her standing all by herself, and the street was getting cold so I thought it wise to stand by making sure she gets home safely " he explains.

Ashley was touched by his concern." Thank you" she was grateful.

" Anton!" He informs stretching out his hands for a shake.

" Ashley," she tells. " Bet to get going now... Thanks again" Ashley waves and carries her daughter to the car.

" Goodbye, mister!" Katie's tiny voice rings, as she waves at him. He waved back at her, smiling.

Inside the car, Katie sat on the front sits, playing when suddenly, Ashley yanked her into her arms.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she didn't make a sound. All she needs now is to feel the comfort of her daughter's arms.

"I miss you, mama," she said and Ashley cried even more.

"I miss you too, baby," she confesses.

After a long time of hugging, she pulls out, smiling at her.

"What's wrong mama?" Katie asked, she wasn't stupid to know her mama wasn't ok.

"Nothing, baby…mama is just so happy to see you after a long day" She lies. Katie nods.

Stretching out her tiny hands, she wipes on Ashley's tears.

"Mama, Katie won't leave you…she will always be here," she said and Ashley smiled. If only little Katie knew that her papa is no more, she will say those words more often so her mama won't be sad. She didn't even get the chance to get to know her papa, she was still a baby when he left.

"I know, baby…and mama will always be here" She felt blessed to have a sweet little pudding like her. How she wishes she could tell her, but she can't.

She drives her home. Little Katie came running, and Ivanna was sitting on the couch, deep in thought.

"Grandma, grandma…I'm back" Katie yells excitedly. She yanks herself into Ivanna's arms but is pushed away, hitting her small butts on the floor.

Ashley was greeted by her baby, crying on the floor. Ivanna sat there, doing nothing.

"Mama!" Katie cries more, upon seeing Ashley.

She rushed to her side and carried her off the floor.

"What happened?" Ashley asked. Directing her question to Ivanna who didn't bother answering.

"Grandma, push me to the ground," Katie burst out in tears. Ashley who heard her stared at Ivanna with so much anger.

How could she do such a thing? At least, it would've been better if she would have yelled at her.

"You ain't the only one grieving here…stop being a pain in the ass," Ashley said sternly. Not minding if she was her mother-in-law.

"I accept your torture, your ill-treatment on myself not on my daughter…I will take it all, your hatred and everything but l won't watch you course a tear rolled down her cheek" She was angry. With every word that left her mouth, tears came running down. Ivanna didn't move.

"You shed tears for your son, but I shed a thousand more for my husband and daughter…you feel his every pain, but I not only feel it, but my heart also bleeds for both of them…we are all mourning, so don't you dare, transfer your anger on her, for she knows not what's going on…she has no idea of what's become of him, and I am lost on what to tell her when she asks…behave like the mother you are" she walks away with Katie in her arms.

Ivanna stayed there, silent, gazing at nothingness.

"My butt hurts" Katie rubs on her little butt. Pouting her lips.

"Let mama massage it for you" Ashley offers. Katie was happy, she lay on her tummy on the bed while Ashley pressed softly on it.

"Mama!" She calls out again and Ashley answers with a hum.

"What is grief?" She asked but there was no response.

"Why not take off your uniform while I prepare something for you?" Ashley aimed at skipping the question and she succeeded. Katie happily stood up from the bed and started removing her uniform.

"I can take off my dress and put it on because mama taught me how to" Katie sings as she puts on her dress. A light pink dress. Her braided hair falls to her back. It was the average length and light brown.

"Mama! Is grandma mad at Katie?" She asked. Ashley, who has been lost in thought, was brought back to earth by her question. She turns to her and holds onto her cheeks.

"No, baby…grandma is just not feeling well" She explains. Katie puts on a thoughtful face. She runs to where her bag and opens it, pulling out biscuits.

"My teacher gave me these mama" she shows her mom, who just smiled.

She knew who her teacher was, so it wasn't a big deal.

"You didn't eat?" She asks, Katie nods.

"I wanted to eat it with you, mama…and since grandma is not feeling well, I think she will like it," She said innocently.

"This is for you mama" she gave Ashley one. Keeping on the other.

"I will give grandma this one," She said looking at the one she was holding. Ashley was amazed at how thoughtful she is. Even when Ivanna treated her badly, she still thought of her.