Ashley shivered slightly. The hospital gown offered no protection, and the sunlight shining through the window couldn’t warm her skin. Her blonde hair, once luxurious and sleek, hung limp down her back. She could see the bones in her hand as she moved them. The hunger in her stomach so constant that it no longer bothered her anymore. She knew the IV drip was giving her the nutrients that she desperately needed, but she couldn’t find the emotion to care anymore.

There was a soft knock on the door before opening. A good looking man with spectacles came in briskly, the creases still on his new suit. Ashley recognized him immediately.

 She didn’t nod is greeting. “Are you hear to report back to David, Gregory?” she questioned him. Her voice was dead panned, already knowing the answer.

Gregory usually had a sarcastic remark to deal with her, but the look on her face stopped him. “He asked me to bring the divorce papers. He hoped that this incident would get you to realize your mistakes and get you to sign them.” There was a cutting edge to his voice when he handed her the documents.

“Ha.” Ashley gave a snort. “My mistakes. My list is shorter than his I reckon.” She signed the papers. “My sister,” she said with a sneer, “if finally getting what she wants.” She handed him back the papers.

Gregory got a cold look on his face. “If you wouldn’t have lied to him, then he would have married the one he should have in the first place.” he snarled. “I had to watch my friend be separated from the woman he loved because of a gold digger like you!”

It was all words that Ashley had heard before. It used to stab knives in her heart that the one person she had loved since she was a child hated her so much. David was Gregory’s best friend, so it was realistic that he would believe what David said. Now she felt nothing but regret. Regret that she had spent so much of her life waiting on someone who didn’t remember her. Regret that she put aside her pride and tolerated the humiliation because of her own sister, Anna.

There was nothing left for David. The last thread was cut when he allowed his lover, her sister, so shove her down the stairs for the simple fact he didn’t want someone like her carrying his child. Only her sister and her knew that it was his child, he firmly believed Anna that the child she carried was another man’s. Anna couldn’t afford to have Ashley carry the Liam family heir, so she poisoned David against her.

She just shook her head, “David told you this, so of course you believe it.” There was no condescending tone to her voice. “He is lucky to have such a loyal friend.” She was sincere in her compliment. David was once a friend like that with her, but those memories were now completely tarnished.

Gregory didn’t want to hear any compliments from her. “He gave you the villa and a black card as compensation. He said that as long as you never show your face to him and his fiancee again, he will deposit a monthly amount.”

Ashley didn’t say a word. She let Gregory put the deed and card on the nightstand before leaving. She wanted nothing from him, not anymore.

 Ashley had only wanted David’s love and for him to keep the promise that he made her when they were children. She pulled out the IV and got dressed. The hospital bill was probably paid by his adopted father, the only member of his family that liked her. She didn’t want to stay around and have to deal with anymore unwanted visitors.

She didn’t have a car, so she just began walking. She didn’t have anywhere to go. She lost most of her friends when she married David. Many had their minds poisoned by Anna, and treated her cruelly, so she was thankful she wouldn’t have to pretend to be friendly to them anymore. She started forming a plan in her mind. She was weak because she was blind in love. Now that she opened her eyes, she felt a small freedom.

She went to the ATM to withdraw enough cash for two cab fares. The first trip she went was to the orphanage that she was raised in.

When she walked in, the cries of the children that greeted her was music to her ears.

“Sissy Ash!”

“Ashy!”

“Ash!”

The multiple nicknames for her echoed the halls. She had beautiful memories of this place. Many orphanages were overcrowded and dingy, but this one was open and airy. The smiles on the children brightened the place. Ashley got a smile on her face when she saw the elderly woman walking towards her.

“Mother Edna!” Ashley gave her a hug. “It’s been too long!”

The grey hair of the short woman was in a tight bun and she looked like a severe headmistress of a school. The smile in her eyes contradicted this. “We receive your monthly donation, but the children prefer to see your smiling face.” she reprimanded Ashley.

Ashley bowed her head. “I am sorry Mother Edna.”

Edna patted her head. “It’s good that you are here. You can see the changes that your monthly donations have made to the orphanage.”

Ashley shook her head. “I’m sorry Mother Edna, I do not have much time today. I only came to give you this.” She handed her the black card. “There will be a monthly deposit. I’m not sure of the amount, but I’m positive it will be enough to attend to the needs of all of the children.”

Mother Edna smiled. “Even after your biological family found you, you still care so much about those that do not have a family.”

Ashley did not want to think about her biological family. She didn’t want to worry Mother Edna, so she just put on a smile. “You are the one that raised me, and I am forever grateful.” She gave Mother Edna a kiss on the cheek. “I must run, but I wanted to make sure you and the children were taken care of.”

Mother Edna smiled. “The children adore you, are you sure you do not have the time to visit?”

Ashley shook her head, “I’m sorry Mother Edna, but I only had a few spare moments.”

Mother Edna was never one to poke into other’s business, so she just nodded. “I hope that things continue to look up for you.”

Ashley walked out, but turned to give the orphanage one last look. She knew that she would never come back. She didn’t want to be in the same city as David and her biological

family.

Ashley hailed a cab and used the last of her money to go to the library. Having a library card was free, so she was able to access the internet.

She printed off documents after documents. Then she went online to submit an application for college. She was always the top of her class when she was in college. David had demanded that she drop out when they got married. She used to use this library when she was studying so she was familiar with it. Everything was under the name she had when she was at the orphanage. When her biological family found her, they demanded that her name be changed.

Once she submitted her applications, she took the documents they she printed. She went to the librarian and had her notarized many of them after signing them. She sent one to her biological family, cutting all ties with them. She sent one to the bank, authorizing Mother Edna as the sole owner of the black card. She didn’t want David or Anna to try to accuse Mother Edna of theft.

As a parting gift to the only person that cared for her, she signed the documents transferring the title of the villa that David gave her to her to his adopted father, Nicholas. Nicholas knew the true colors of Anna, but David would never listen to him. Greta, Nicholas’s wife, never wanted David to marry her, but to marry Anna. She was the one behind Anna when it came to most of the schemes. She also sent with property transfer papers, the DNA test stating the child that she lost was the child of David. She didn’t trust Anna to give David the papers, but she didn’t want the only person outside of the orphanage to show her love, to be disgusted by her.

Using her knowledge of the library, she snuck into an isolated corner. She knew that no one would look for her there, so she tucked herself down for the night. Her stomach growled, but she was used to it, so she drank water to silence it.

She took advantage of the hustle of the opening of the library to come out of her corner the next morning. She immediately logged in and went to her e-mail. There was the admittance letter to the college and the documents for a full scholarship. She sighed in relief. It had been over a year since she was in college, and she was afraid that they would have forgotten her. She was thankful that she had left such a good impression on them, that they not only recognized her, they offered her the same full scholarship they offered a year ago.

She printed the documents needed, and also got them authorized. Once all of the packets of papers were ready, she went to the post office and mailed them all.

She counted out the change she had left and used every bit of it for a bus ride to the airport. The scholarship included free airfare, so she just had to show the documentation. Fortunately the college had required all her personal information, so she was able to print the off and not have to go back to the family home to get them.

She boarded the plane and laid back, pretending to sleep so that no one would bother her.