~Ashley’s POV~

The alarm blared into the silence of my room waking me from the dreamless sleep I’d been trapped in all night. It was the first time in a long time that I didn’t dream but still felt alone and scared. Stretching I put it all behind me and headed for the bathroom, feet padding along the wooden floor feeling the slight chill seeping into my flesh, the familiar shiver running over my skin as I entered the bathroom.

Someone left the cooler on low last night as the toilet seat was freezing, shivering I did my business than walked down stairs to the kitchen to see mama cooking some bacon, “Hey sweetie how did you sleep?”

Shrugging I sat down at the kitchen table, “Fine…someone left the cooler on last night,”

“I’ll talk to your uncle he was always a bit hot blooded,” she chuckled flipping the bacon over to the opposite side.

Silence took over again. I was unsure if I should bring it up, I mean there was a stranger in the house somewhere and it wasn’t good to keep things bottled in, “Mama?”

“Huh?” brown eyes never left the frying pan in front of her.

Getting up I leaned on the island facing her, “Is she here?”

This got her attention as her head snapped up before nodding easily, “She’s upstairs sleeping.”

Silence again.

This house was never as silent as it had been for the last few days. It was her fault that no one knew what to say, that every one drifted into their own minds. I’d rather be at hockey practice, even if I sucked, than to be here in the quietness.

“Go get ready for school while I finish making breakfast.”

“What about my chores?”

“Your mother couldn’t sleep last night so was up early; she finished everything already and is now sleeping away.” Mama frowned shaking her head.

That wasn’t good. Mom always worked her self way too hard when she was stressed. It landed her in the hospital once during a storm. She didn’t want us hurt so sent us in while she and mama finished up than collapsed due to stress and Uncle Arthur found her on the ground of the barn.