The Time of Ash: The Dream

By Jasmine R. L.

Ash, a young woman who suffers from self-identity issues, is thrown a curveball (a choice) when she comes home from college, three-months pregnant, only to realize that the father might be a prince from a fantasy kingdom in her dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524523121

Jasmine R. L.

Jasmine R. L. is a fantasy fiction writer that focuses on opening up and challenging the minds of her readers. She often writes on controversial issues and dogmas that are present in our society and seeks to break down the “isms” that young and old minds so easily subscribe to. Her writing is often mistaken for no more than teenage folly and romance. She praises independent thinking and action and wants to create youth that love themselves, each other, and the planet. She was raised in Texas for the majority of her life and is currently starting a farm with her husband. She is presently studying to be an environmental interior designer, a contractor, and a construction engineer. She adores her parents, her family, and friends who are often developed into the characters of her books, against their own wills.

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Copyright © 2016 by Jasmine R.L.

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5245-2313-8

eBook 978-1-5245-2312-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/27/2016

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

To you

I made decisions. Decisions that brought pain and suffering, but decisions nonetheless that brought you here. I apologize that I am everything you thought I would be, and nothing how you wish I weren’t. But you see stories don’t get told unless someone messes up, right? Or am I just giving myself excuses? I carried you for five years without even realizing it, is that how disconnected I am from you? If you’re reading this I know you were expecting some type of sorry or an explanation but I have none for you. You must understand that this was always your story, not mine. Now you have to make everything that I screwed up better, it’s what you were born to do.

-Ash

Chapter One

How could you, you arrogant child?! Ash felt the screams of her mother pierce deeper into her skull as she gazed out the window of the car. It was raining, something that barely happened here in Granby, Colorado and she felt a shift in the air around her. Where was the snow? She thought as she sighed and squinted to see just a little bit farther into the unknown. Are you listening to me? Ash?! Listen to me! Her mother’s voice brought her back to reality and she slowly turned her head to face her. huh?

Ash?!- Seriously, do you even love Michael? I mean what will he think- what will his family think?! Ash sighed and looked away, I don’t know mother…

Who is the father, Ash? Her mother’s cold blue eyes grazed her cheek and pinpointed her fear. Ash felt the dreaded pull to look, but didn’t. Mother, honestly, I don’t know! Her mother shook her head and groaned with anger. You are the most desired debutante in this state, this is quite unbecoming for a girl of your class, what is wrong with you?!

Ash sighed and tried to block her out. What was wrong with her? Was is the fact that her mother had this twisted idea of her being some royal country town girl or the fact that she was happy about this big mistake?

Your father and I have fancied you off like some virgin- and now this! A baby?! Who is the father; you must have known who you’ve slept with? We send you to medical school and you come back with a balloon of a stomach?!

Ash looked at the small bump beneath her sweat shirt and shook her head at her mother’s dramatization. She was only three months pregnant; there wasn’t much to gawk at yet.

Mother, if I knew- I would suppose I tell you, but I haven’t slept with anyone- I mean?!

What! What do you mean? It’s not everyday girls get sent to New York and come back pregnant, Ash, unless they’ve been a tramp!

Her mother was being dramatic again; just because she was pregnant didn’t mean she slept with the whole city of New York.

Mother?!

Ash turned her gaze towards the pavement again, her hand drawing closer to her stomach clutching her greatest sin of a mystery. She did not know how- nor did she know why, she felt like the Virgin Mary reincarnate. However, her mind kept circling back to one figure in her dreams, a boy who she had secretly been in love with all her life. Only there was one problem, he wasn’t real…

***************************************************

Her mother’s red van pulled into the driveway of the small hospital, in their hometown. She felt the brakes squeak as they struggled to stop in the flooded parking lot. Ash rolled her eyes as she saw the white figures of the nurses outside waiting for their arrival under the awning; they had a wheel chair ready for her. Of course her mother had called ahead of time. Her mother slammed the gear quickly in to park and turned to look at her daughter with anger. Everyone is here Ash. We’ll get to the bottom of this once and for all, and then we’ll consider abortion-

You wouldn’t dare harm my baby! She cried to no one in particular; her mother wasn’t exactly listening.

Ash opened the door and jumped to the pavement, slamming the door shut on her mother’s crude remark. Shielding her face from the rain she quickly took her position in the wheel chair and refused to look at her mother anymore as she watched the van drive off in search of a parking space. The nurse smiled at her with warmth and for a quick second Ash thought she could have seen a pointy ear underneath her blonde hair; but it was gone all too soon. She felt the wheels of the wheel chair roll smoothly over the threshold and felt her stomach plunge in to sickness at the thought of seeing her father. Her mother’s screaming filled her head once more as she looked down at the glossy tile floor to forget them.

The hospital was cold and smelled of baby powder and latex. Ash sighed as the nurse neared the final corner to the hospital lobby, but gasped as she saw a young man leaning against the wall before her. His skin was tanned a dark caramel, his golden eyes followed her motion. She recognized him instantly, the boy in her dreams, and the black silky hair with one white strand over his majestic eyes. Suddenly to vanish as she gazed in his general direction-only to be seen for what she thought was his way of comforting her in this dreadful time. Ash kept her mouth shut and groaned as a new audience appeared in her view; her father, Michael, and his family.

Ash? Michael exclaimed as he ran to her in confusion, what’s going on? Her father glared down upon her, and shook his head in shame as he looked away. She didn’t expect less from a stern cop who was always worried about his family’s appearance, especially to the small general public. No wonder her mother had become so shallow. Michael’s family dare not speak, afraid to speak out of turn. These poor people cursed to be a part of her family’s drama. She had only just met Michael at the Denver Debutante Ball six years ago- he was her prospective match. Michael- I…I…I don’t know, please I have to talk to you- you might understand. Michael nodded, but stopped as the nurse pushed the wheel chair away from them and in to the double doors of the emergency room.

Michael I’m sorry! Ash cried as tears began to flow down her cheeks, I don’t know what’s going on… Michael stood there ending his chase as Ash reached for him with confusion. It’s ok….I think. Michael tried to comfort her, but somehow she could see the look on his face wasn’t too sincere.

************************************************

Okay, Ash Howden, my name is Dr. Russe- so what’s going on? It was the expected routine monotone question; as if he couldn’t see the problem right there in front of him. Ash looked down at her small round belly and covered it with her sheets, I don’t know. Dr. Russe sighed and laughed, Well it seems to me you should, most women know when their pregnant and how as well. She scoffed at his remark and rolled her eyes. He had asked the question.

So who have you been sexually active with?

Ash watched as he took a seat at the desk tucked in to the corner of the room. He had taken the pen out of his coat pocket and began writing, trying to look sincere as all doctors do.

No one, honest.

Ms. Howden, the last time I checked the virgin Mary escapade doesn’t work in this century and if I’m not mistaken you’re twenty- two years old and very established; your mother is a close friend of mine and-

What Dr. Russe, did my mother have so much to say over the phone?! Ash interrupted him.

She told me you’re a college student studying for medical school. I know that you’re quite shy and very upset about your parent’s sudden divorce. Could this be some type of way to act out-

You’re acting like I’m sixteen, Dr. and NO! I’m not acting out; I’m not lying when I tell you I don’t know…

Ash clutched the bed sheet tighter around her stomach.

I just fainted in biology at school and then the doctor in New York told me I’m pregnant. I don’t know why- I’m just as freaked out as you are! I’ve never had sex, I mean, I haven’t even really French kissed or hugged Michael- we’ve never been intimate. Ash chuckled to herself maybe she had told a white lie. She had attempted sex once; but only in her dreams. But that wasn’t unnatural. Everyone did it.

But that’s not what I asked you, Ms. Howden, whether or not you’ve been intimate with Michael wasn’t my concern. I asked who you’ve been intimate with…

Ash eyed him; irritated by his smart remark.

Doctor, if I told you anything close to what you’re asking you wouldn’t believe me- I mean I don’t even know whether to believe myself.

Well Ms. Howden your family wants answers and you’ve got to start supplying them with something. Are you going to abort this child?

No!!!!

Ash glared at him, her navy blue eyes holding the same striking anger as her mothers’.

"So you desire to have a baby that you have no clue how it came about?

Yes, I mean…I…I mean something is telling me I want this baby, I don’t know why!

The doctor sighed and wrote something on her paper work, Ash knew he was judging her, probably writing down lies for her mother to gawk at. Crazy, unstable, irrational, undecided-they all fit her well when it came to the judgmental nature of her parents. Well then tell me what you think happened; it’s better than not saying a word at all. Your parents are very concerned about you-

Doctor, please, I already know what my parents think. They think I’m too young, and if that’s not the case, they think I’ve been a whore. Can you imagine doctor how it feels to have your whole life planned for you? Ever since I was young my mother has treated me as the best apple in all of Granby including bragging and spreading word of my engagement to Michael. As if it matters! We live in a town where the population barely exceeds two-thousand; I wish she would see there’s a bigger better world out there, she suddenly stopped her ranting, but I don’t know what I want really. I don’t even know if I actually smile for real in pictures, if Michael even cares about me, or if my dreams are starting to warp in to this very sick reality of life.

Dr. Russe sighed again and placed the paperwork on to the counter of his desk as he stood to his feet and smiled. Oh no. Here comes the lecture, Ash thought.

You’re very beautiful woman, and you look just like your mother Ash. You don’t have to worry about the big world out there.

Oh no. It wasn’t one. It was just his way of trying to make the best out of an awkward situation. He was in love with her mother of course. Another one of her puppets to ensure she was in full control of her daughter’s life. She was the daughter of a rich debutante after all.

Well then let me check your stomach… Ash watched as he withdrew the sheet from her small bulging tummy and pressed firmly against the fabric that covered it. Ash grunted with pain, as his hand seem to be jabbing her belly with great force. You are pregnant alright, and I’m sure there will be great gossip in Rhumea. Ash glanced back at him twice in response to his remark; her face churning with concern. Excuse me, what did you say?!

Dr. Russe coughed and pushed harder, "I meant Granby- I