Ashley Kimberly- HE is the Woman

chapter 8 : The lie

Ashley quickly got up from the sofa when she heard Ann's voice.

" You go and check on Ann. Let me cook dinner for all of us."
Ashley nodded in reply.

Ashley ran upstairs to Rachel's room. Rachel still asleep. Ann sat at the corner of the bed, shaking.
Ashley ran to Ann and hugged her. Ann bursted into tears.
"I..I.I tho..thought something will happen to both of us...I.I thought they would rape us..I was so afraid  Ashley...Ashley what would i have done without you..you are my brother..you kept the promise to protect me forever..I..I love you"

Tears rolled down on Ashley's cheeks. Her badass bold sister who never feared anything or anyone shattered into pieces. Right now Ashley felt like killing those goons for making her sister cry.

Is this how Rosa felt when she was about to be raped? Then how worse was it after she was ra..

Ashley did not feel like using the word rape in her thoughts again. She broke into tears at her own thoughts of Rosa. That girl had no one to go to. No one to hug her and tell her how much she is loved.

"Shh..Shh enough..you are my strong sister. Remember how you use to protect me from bullies when we were young?. You are my sassy sister. And even if something bad happened to any of us, it wouldn't have changed anything. It's wouldn't have changed how much i love you. If something bad happened to us, I would have still lived the life I have been living proudly. Women's dignity  is not in their vagina!. The ones to do the crime should lower their head and live with the shame for the rest of their lives!.I love you so much.I would never trade a sister like you  for anything. I would happily give my life for you".
Ann hugged Ashley tighter than before. She stopped crying now.

Richard's eyes glistened with tears when he heard Ashley saying all these to Ann from the door. His heart has surrendered to this strong woman.

Next morning Abbie rushed to Richard's place with some clothes for Ann and Ashley. Abbie started to bawl when she got to know the details.

"Abbie! don't cry! I would never let anything happen to to Ann and this woman's body!. I don't know in whose body my soul is trapped but as long as my soul is in it this body is my responsibility!".
Abbie gave Ashley and Ann a group hug.

After waking up Rachel has been adamant to not to get off from Ashley's arms. Ashley got Rachel ready for her school. Fed her breakfast. Then got her into the school bus. Afterwards, Richard and Ashley went to work together. Abbie took Ann back to her apartment.

Ashley seemed distracted at the office.

Richard knocked at Ashley's cabin.

"Hmm?", said Ashley ,still lost in her thoughts.

"I need those files I gave you to sign".

"Hmm I will send it to you in 15min".

Noticing Ashley distracted Richard continued,
"I will also need those files I submitted to you the other day".

"Hmm I will send it to you in 15min".

"I will need Jennifer lopez as well ".

"Hmm I will send it to you in 15min".

Richard bursted into laughter grabbing Ashley's attention, finally.
" I will wait for you to send me Jennifer lopez".

Ashley turned red. Richard did not bother her more by asking anything.

The following night Ashley let Ann sleep on her lap. She gently patted her head. Ashley kept on thinking about Rosa.
Suddenly Ashley noticed someone standing by the window. It didn't take her long to guess who it was.
Dan.

Dan sat at the further end of the bed.
" Is it a brother's concern or a sister's love that made you take care of Ann. You never cared about anyone before".

"Because no one needed me to care for them. Ann always took care of me so now it's my turn".

"Whether you admit to yourself or not but God knows your feelings better. I am here to tell you that you have finally experienced how it feels to be a sister. You faced Stage 1 of being a woman".

"You are talking about the stages of being a woman! and here my sister nearly got...never-mind".
Ashley started to sob. Her fears for Ann and guilt of what she did to Rosa gave her a mixed feeling of sadness.
Dan walked to Ashley and gently patted on her back.
"You are doing fine. You have to keep on doing fine".
For the first time Dan has been warm to Ashley.

Ashley fell asleep while patting Ann's head.
Next morning Abbie's voice attacked Ashley and Ann like an alarm clock. Ann woke up and went to take shower.

"Ashley wake up", commanded Abbie.

"Make the breakfast I am coming", replied Ashley to sleep few minutes more.

"I will make it before you are ready. Wake up now".

"Also turn the geyser on. I will be up by the time water is heated".

"Yes your highness, do you need anything more?", asked Abbie sarcastically.

"Umm..yes...10min of silence".

Next thing Ashley felt was a slap on her ass. Ashley started to chase to Abbie to slap her back. Ashley stopped running after Abbie when she got a text. As soon as Ashley turned her phone on, she wore a wide smile. Astonished ,Abbie peaked to see whose text it was from. A text from Richard read the screen. Abbie wasn't surprised. She noticed how close Ashley and Richard have grown over past 1 month. Even with her insecurities, all Abbie cared about was Ashley's happiness.

"Do you like him?", asked Abbie out of blue.

"What? Whom are you talking about", replied Ashley while texting Richard.

"Richard".

"What! i'm not gay! he is my buddy". Ashley's eyes still on her phone.

"Well you are not gay but the body you are trapped in is of a woman. Whatever her hormones will make her feel, you will feel it too. Okay fine tell me doesn't your heartbeat fast when Richard is with you?. Don't you bite your lips every time you find him attractive?. Don't you blush when he touches you?".

Ashley finally looked at Abbie. Her hands trembled.

How does Abbie know how I feel around Richard? But no way..we are buddies. I am attracted to women not men.

Ashley took few moments before answering Abbie.

"No. None of it happens to me when I am with him", lied Ashley.

But why did I lie to Abbie? She is my best friend. What's happening to me.