Then one day it was like a switch had suddenly been thrown. Ashley looked more closely around at the new life she had with her sweet beau and performing. She loved it, and she wanted more. She wanted them to find their own home and start their life away from their parents. When she excitedly suggested this plan to Waffle, he laughed. He didn't like the sound of that idea at all. He said if they moved out on their own they would have to work really hard at boring trades to support themselves. Living at home meant way more fun and very little responsibility. Ashley decided that he was probably right, but she told him how unhappy she was living with her mother and Wayne. He told her that she could move in with him and his parents. She balked, as this was very non-traditional, but when he called his mother into the room she heartily agreed. Excited and pleased, Ashley left for home right away to pack all of her things.
The next 6 months started to become difficult for Ashley again. The ecstasy and enchantment of new love had worn off some, and some of the old thoughts and anxieties crept back into her mind. And as her mental state started to deteriorate again, she found judgemental thoughts coming into her head and out of her mouth. Just like with Buck, this started destroying her relationship with Waffle. Even as she saw this happening, she seemed to be powerless to stop it. She swore that if he just understood her better that everything would all magically become better. But he did not understand the seemingly sudden change in his sweetheart. And the words that she said and the thoughts that she had did not make sense. They were scrambled somewhere between her head, her heart, and her mouth. And just like she had with Buck, she slowly watched her union deteriorate more and more, helpless to intervene in anything but a negative way. And losing Waffle was just too much for the girl. He was the love of her life. He had been her lantern light and Northern Star. He had reminded her that joy existed during her darkest nights. And it was all her fault that he now looked at her as Wayne looked at her mother. As if she were simply a nuisance in the way of his happiness, and an unpleasantness to be dealt with. So Ashley did all that she knew how to do. She retreated within herself, she found solace in food, and she spent her time in make believe. In stories of other people's lives that were not so terrible. Of true love, overwhelming strength, grand adventure, and great friendship. Of all of the wonderful things of which she had none. And one day he was just gone. If she had been his angel, he had been her wings. And now she was grounded, stuck, and back at home with her now-divorced mother.
