Friends Till The End

Chapter 3 - Ashlee

"No, no, no! Please! Don't hit me, Ken!" I awoke in a lather of sweat. My breaths were so loud, I woke my husband up.

"What ya goin on bout? Shut up will ya! Im tryna sleep!"

I realised I probably shouldn't have awoke so loudly. Ken is a light sleeper. I don't know what he will do to me now that I've woken him. I quickly jump out of bed at the thought.

I crept to the door and slowly turned the door handle so it wouldn't creak. I ran down the stairs of our gorgeous mansion to check on my wonderful 7-year-old twins; Tessa and Maddi. I stood at their bedroom door. It was with decorated purple and green streamers and a stunning handmade timber sign, stating that it was their room. I turned the golden handle and looked in. Two beautiful little faces inhabited the beds. I kissed their foreheads and went into the kitchen. I pressed the button that opened the curtains and gaped at the beautiful view of the ocean lapping at the golden sand.

I boiled the kettle and put on some bacon and eggs on the pan. I knew not to let them burn. Ken likes the toast golden, the bacon crispy -  but not burnt, and the egg not to soft - but not too hard. Every morning I had to do this for him, otherwise he would hit me. One morning, he got up before me, because I slept in. He wouldn't know how to toast a piece of bread, so he punched me in the face, in front of poor Maddi and Tessa. I had to get three stitches under my eye. Maddi and Tessa haven't really spoken since. Poor things. They shouldn't have to see that kind of thing.

Just as the kettle finished boiling, the phone rang. I lunged at it so it wouldn't wake Ken up.

"Hey Ashlee. It's me, Gwen."

"Oh, hey Gwen." I said this a little too glumly and I think Gwen noticed my sadness. She was, after all, my best friend from school.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired."

"If you say so."

I knew she wasn't convinced.

"Bridge and I are meeting up at the nearest restaurant to your house. Can you please come? There is something we need to tell you."

"Yeah sure. Text me the details. Oh, and Gwen? Please don't ring this phone this early in the morning."

"Oh sure."

I could tell she was curious. But instead of asking why, she asked something a lot worse.

"Do you have Remi's phone number? We need to tell her as well."

"Oh, didn't you know?"

"Didn't know what?"

There was a long pause. I didn't know how to say it.

"About 7 years ago, Remi passed away. She committed suicide."