Chapter 19

The morning sun, a golden sentinel in the sky, filtered through Ashley's curtains, casting a radiant glow on her peaceful slumber. Stirred from her dreams, Ashley wrestled with the warmth of the sunbeam, trying to coax her heavy eyelids open.

In a sleepy daze, Ashley blinked twice, her eyes protesting the intrusion of the sun's rays. Slowly, she raised her arms and used her hands to form a makeshift shield against the brightness. With a graceful stretch and a drawn-out yawn, she greeted the new day.

With a mischievous glint in her eye and a hint of nostalgia, she muttered to herself, "It's a new day for the old Ashley to arise."

With newfound enthusiasm, Ashley propelled herself out of bed, her lithe frame a silhouette against the streaming morning light. She reached for her phone, fingers dancing over the screen as she initiated a video call with Emily, her closest confidante.

On the other end of the call, Emily's voice crackled through, a toothbrush clutched between her teeth. "Hey,