#broken gravity

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Family had always been a difficult thing for Ashleigh.

Her own had never been very big nor very welcoming.

It made things harder to navigate than they should have been.

Feelings she was no longer used to, feelings she no longer knew.

--

There was a strange warmth in her chest as she watched Mary and Newton.

They knew a peace far different from any she had ever experienced.

A bitterness she had to quell when dwelled on for too long.

--

Ashleigh was part of their family now.

Apparently.

She didn’t understand it.

She was Dr Somer’s assistant, she was anything but family.

Why were they treating her as if she was one of them?

--

Family felt nice.

Family had felt nice.

She’d had to ruin that, of course, but it had been nice while it lasted.

Being able to feel safe, being able to feel secure in her job.

Even just for a little while.

But every good thing had an end.

This one… rather explosive.