The Telegram

Five years later.

Ashley paced back and forth through the corridor . She's been feeling uneasy, and not able to catch some sleep. Why won't she? When her husband spends every day and night, fighting. The battle between Middle state and Northland has her sleepless nights but this night was different, everything was just different.

She stares at the wall clock. It was three in the morning, she still hasn't slept. Her heart was running a race on its own, and sweets formed on her face as if fighting an invisible war.

The sound of sobs was heard, and she rushed in. It was her daughter, little Katie. She seems to be having a nightmare as she cries out begging.

"Please, daddy…no! Don't go" little Katie cries in her sleep. Ashley pulls her into her arms, comforting her silently. Without realizing it, she fell asleep and only woke up with a shake of her arms.

"Mama, wake up…you promise to take me to school early" Little Katie has always been time conscious. She is just five years old, but she is smart enough to know certain things.

Ashley woke up sitting upright. Seeing Katie's cute face was all she needed to start up her day.

"Good morning, baby" she greets with a perk on her face. Little Katie blushes.

"My bath is ready…I made it myself" Little Katie tells proudly. Ashley smiles at her.

"My baby is so strong and hardworking" she rubs her hair.

"I am a big girl mama, I am five years " she shows on her little hands. Ashley smiles making her way to the bath.

"Big girl huh? Guess you will start cooking for mama, then" said Ashley. Little Katie nods in excitement.

The water in the bath was hotter than normal, so she added some cold water to it. Little Katie was happy, allowing her mom to bathe her clean for school while she played with the foams.

Ashley got her dress for school, looking all good.

"Braid my hair mama…I love it when you make me look good" She turns, allowing Ashley to have access to her hair.

"You know mama, my classmates always get jealous of my new hairstyle…they always ask me who made it," she said, playing tags with her hand.

"And what do you tell them?" Ashley asked. She finishes styling her hair, staring at her daughter's beautiful reflection in the mirror.

"You mama…I tell them my mama styles my hair with so much love" she explains innocently. Ashley was touched by her words. Her daughter is surely growing up.

She turns little Katie to face her, smiling.

"My baby is so good at praising mama…mama loves you a lot, with love that this earth can't contain" Ashley pinched her cheeks, showering kisses all over her face.

"I love you too mama…you are my mama, the best mama in the whole wild world" she hugs Ashley, rubbing her small palms around her neck. She carries her out.

"Stay here, let mama make you your favourite " Ashley places her on a seat in the kitchen. Little Katie obediently sat down and watched her mom make her breakfast.

In no time, it was ready. She ate happily and afterwards, Ashley rode her to school.

She bids her mom goodbye and rushes to class. Ashley stayed there, smiling as she gazed at the school campus where her daughter ran into.

Her life has never been all perfect but with Katie and Andriy, her life was all she could ever wish for.

At home, Ashley had a lot to do. It has always been her duty to always keep the house clean and she has been dutiful too.

"Get me something to drink, '' Ivanna commands. Sitting on the couch reading newsletters. Ivanna is Andriy's mom and has always been a thorn in Ashley's life.

Ashley left and came back with a glass of fresh water. But it wasn't what Ivanna wanted.

"I didn't ask for water you fool, get me my juice" She yells. Ashley wasn't bothered by her words, she was used to them. Ivanna had always been a pain in the ass for her since the very beginning.

There's nothing she will say now that will affect her. Without a word, Ashley gave her the juice she demanded. Ivanna rolls her eyes in irritation, she didn't like the way Ashley was just so carefree and unaffected by her words. But what could she do?

Jolly came in, taking a seat by her mother, typing on her phone nonstop.

"Get that noise away, can't you see I am reading?" Ivanna complains.

"Don't push me, mom, my mood isn't the one you will appreciate?" Jolly tells her straight to the face. She never gives respect to anyone except Andriy, her brother.

Ivanna breathed tirelessly, knowing who her daughter was, she wasn't ready to press her start bottom that she won't be able to stop.

Jolly lends on the couch, feeling relaxed. She had nothing to do at home. All the chores have been handled by Ashley.

The doorbell rings but Ivanna doesn't bother to check who's at the door. And so did Jolly.

They just sat there, doing their thing.

Ashley walked out of the room with bags of dirty dresses, she was about to do laundry.

She places them down and rushes to the door. It was the delivery guy, he was here again with a telegram from Andriy.

The last time she received a letter from him was a month ago.

"Mrs Ashley Norman?" He asks and she nods. She signs, and he then hands her the telegram.

"Mom, it's a telegram from Andriy" Ashley walks back, opening it.

"For goodness sake, stop calling me mom…I am not your mom" Ivanna yells angrily.

Jolly chuckles at her mom's words. That's so just like her mom. She wasn't any different, just like the saying goes, like a mother like a daughter.

Ashley ignores her. Pulling out the letter, she starts reading it.

She didn't have to read everything to know what it was talking about. Her biggest nightmare has come to pass.

She stood there, frozen to her spot looking all pale.

Ivanna who had no time for her was surprised to still see her standing. Normally, she would have rushed to her room happily, but she didn't. She just kept on standing there, as if she saw a devil.