“About?”

“You, me, your family. Stuff.”

“Sounds heavy.”

Heaving a sigh, her eyes drifted to the garage door ahead of them as she ran a hand through her curly brown tresses. “Yeah. Real heavy.”

Spencer stared at her intently for a moment, trying to surmise the details of Ashley’s vague answer. You: Her current state of psychological health wasn’t what it should be but it was inching its way back to a place that was close. She could never be the same person again, but perhaps she could find a parallel that shared similarities with what she was. She was sure Ashley was hoping for a full return to normalcy over time but some things are too much to wish for.
Your family: Well that was easy enough. Paula and the slow deterioration of her marriage to Arthur. She was well aware of how much the brunette liked her dad and the whole situation probably was most likely wearing down on that big heart. Then there was the Spencer vs. Paula aspect that didn’t seem to have a good end in sight, and the concern Ashley felt was as palpable as her own anger at her mother.
Me: …She was damnably unaware of what was going on with the older girl. Ashley had been so strong for her, a pillar which she could always lean on without fear of it giving way. Now, slumped down in the tanned leather seats of the large SUV, all she could see was a very tired girl who looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

There was to much pressure, too much anxiety, too much shit happening at once that it was weighing down and suffocating the two of them. They needed a break. They needed some sleep. “How bout we go inside and get some rest.”

Ashley nodded her head wordlessly, opened the door, and stepped out. Spencer did as well. They walked to the front door, hands meeting and holding onto each other as she slipped in the key and turned the lock, letting them into the very quiet and very empty house.

Their feet padded softly up the steps and into the large bedroom where light was drifting in through the open windows, bathing the room in warmth. A yawn escaped the brunette’s lips as she moved to her drawers, pulling out a pair of yellow happy-face boxer shorts and an old white-beater for herself. She turned around to find an expectant look on the younger girl’s face, one she met with confusion until she realized that she hadn’t gotten PJ’s for her.