It had been a week since that day. Ashley hadn't heard a word from his father since.His mother health begun to fail, worn down by constant stress and pain. Because of this
, Ashley was forced to temporarily stopped school so as to better take care of his mother's health.
***********
One rainy night, everything took a terrifying turn. Ashley woke to the sound of his mother coughing -deep, chocking cough. But then , to his horror she coughed up blood.
Ashley rushed to his mother's side as she coughed violently, blood staining her lips.
He grabbed a glass of water and helped her drink but nothing seemed to ease her pain.
In desperation,he snatched up the phone and dialed his father's number "Dad , Mom is _" he started but the call abruptly ended. He tried again,his heart pounding with every unanswered ring. No one picked up.
With each passing second, his mother condition worsened and the fear in his chest grew heavier. He ran outside into the pouring rain, his soaked clothes clinging to him as thunder rumbled above. He pounded on neighbor's doors screaming for help.
"It's late go home and rest" one voice replied tiredly behind the door.
" Stop making a fuss kid !" Another said.
No one answered his desperate cries.
The rain drowned out everything but the pounding of his own heart.
Ashley sank to his knees, tears mixing with the rain feeling utterly alone.
Suddenly, headlights cut through the rain,and everything went black for him.
" Ash, Ash , you promised me" a soft voice whispered in the darkness.
************
Ten Years Later
The sharp trill of the alarm pierced the silence, cutting through the early morning haze like a blade. A pale hand reached out from under the blanket, fumbling for the source of the noise until it finally hit the snooze button.
Ashley groaned softly, dragging himself into a seated position. He blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim gray light filtering through the blinds. As he ran a hand through his long, blonde hair, the golden strands shimmered faintly in the light, falling like silk over his shoulders.
His reflection stared back at him from the mirror by the wall—piercing blue eyes that held both ice and fire, framed by thick lashes that would make anyone envious, his nose straight and his lips full and faintly pink.
It had been ten years since that night.
Ten years since the accident that changed everything.
He had been found lying unconscious in the middle of the road, soaked in rain, bloodied, unmoving. People said it was a miracle he survived. No one knew how. Not even the man who took him in—Victor , a quiet, weathered man in his late 50s, who had spotted him while driving home that rainy night.
Ashley had been in a coma for three whole months. When he finally woke up, the world had already moved on. His mother was gone. Buried. No goodbye. No closure.
Victor hadn't asked questions. He simply gave him a place to stay, a warm meal, and later, a job at his bar tucked away in a sleepy corner of the city. Ashley never spoke of the past, and Victor never pushed him to.
Life had become… quiet
Calm. Almost peaceful.
Ashley slipped out of bed and tied his hair back, the familiar motion grounding him. The small apartment above the bar was simple but enough. He poured himself a glass of water, staring out the window at the waking city.
But somewhere deep in him, something stirred,Something unfinished.
And unknown to Ashley, the peace was only temporary.
***********
Author 's note
This is Chapter 2 of The Promise Between Us! 😙
Hope you enjoy it—don't forget to comment and vote! ☺️
Note: The pronunciation of Ashley's name is Ah-sh-lay.
XOXO,
QuillQueens 💕