The cloud is moving now, Aubrey. I’ve found the switch to turn the static off. I am choosing a different path—a solid, safe, and honest path—every single day. Gaining your trust back isn’t a quick fix, and I know that. It’s like climbing a mountain one step at a time, and I know sometimes you look at me and you’re still waiting for me to slip. And that’s okay. You have every right to take your time. But I promise you, I will keep climbing. I will keep showing up. I will keep telling the truth, even when it’s hard. I will be here, stable and strong, for all the small moments and the big ones. We’ve started finding small bits of our rhythm again. Maybe it’s just a casual chat or a moment of quiet on the couch, but every one of those moments is like a single note in our new, stronger song.

Always remember- Jeremiah 29:11

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At fourteen, Aubrey already knew the weight of the world. It felt like a heavy backpack she couldn’t take off. While other girls her age were worrying about homework or high school dances, Aubrey was making sure Ian’s shoes were tied, Forrest had his lunch, and little Novalee was tucked in tight. She was the anchor in a stormy sea, the "little mother" who kept the house quiet when the world outside felt too loud.

The storm eventually broke. Their mother, Ashley, was fighting a battle against a shadow that stole her smile and her focus. When the people from the state arrived, everything moved in a blur of cardboard boxes and quiet tears. Aubrey held her siblings' hands as they were moved to their father’s house. For a long time, the silence between Aubrey and her mom was the loudest thing in the room.

Life at their father’s house was safe, but Aubrey’s heart felt like a house with the power turned off. She watched Ian and Forrest play in the yard, still feeling like she had to be their shield. She missed the version of her mom that existed before the shadow took over—the woman who wasn't just a mother, but a best friend.

To keep from drowning in the "now," Aubrey drifted into the "then." She remembered the nights they spent DoorDashing to make ends meet. They would roll the windows down, the night air smelling of fries and freedom. With Taylor Swift turned up to full blast, they would scream-sing every lyric, their voices tangling together in the wind. In those moments, the world wasn't scary; it was a stage.

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"The Song we Found Again"

Name: The Song we Found Again
Author: Ashley Ann

Ashley Ann

Fourteen-year-old Aubrey acts as a 'little mother' to her siblings during her mother's struggle. As her mother works toward recovery, Aubrey must learn to heal and rebuild their bond, finding her way back to being a daughter again.

(16 pages)

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