TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND ALIVEN'T ATTEMPT

A week passed. And hell had broken lose.

For Ashley, things only got worse. Since Sara's death, she felt herself fall into a downward spiral. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep. Not even the sight of her family could make her feel better.

She knew it was her fault for Sara's death. It was. And the voices in her head only made it worse.

She was on her bed when they attacked, and she was powerless.

You know what you've done. If it wasn't for you, Sara would be just fine, and YOU'D be gone.

What? What's wrong with me?

Fucking everything. You're a weak, pathetic excuse of a person who can't even sing a song without fleeing. You always rely on someone else, and they usually suffer because of you.

No. That's not true!

Oh really? Then remind me who it was that still can't sleep at night because of nightmares?

Lots of people suffer from nightmares. What does that have to do-

Erin suffers from your nightmares. So did your mom.

Rin doesn't anymore! We've talked it out.

But the damage still stands. Even your so-called "family" is just a big lie. They're only wasting their time talking to you so you feel included, but they know you can't be.

Lies! The Queens love me for who I am, and they accept me...

Right?

Ashley sat up. She was wrong. They didn't care, they just wanted her to leave them alone.

See? They don't want you. You're just a burden.

I'm just a burden.

A worthless, pathetic mess.

I'm a worthless, pathetic mess.

You don't deserve all this. In fact, you don't deserve to live.

I don't deserve to live.

Ashley got up and left her room. It was a Tuesday, and Erin was out on a show, so she knew no one would find her.

She ran to the bathroom and found some painkillers. She knew that they couldn't kill her mental pain, but it would get rid of her.

Grabbing a sheet of paper and a pen, she scribbled her last words and set the paper down.

She felt a slight hesitation, but it seemed to wash away as she popped open the cap and downed the whole bottle in one.

***

"RedHead! Ya here?!"

Erin walked through the house. The show had just ended, and she came home expecting to see Ashley doodling in the reading nook, but she wasn't there.

Erin felt her heart pound. No, not again.

She ran to Ashley's room. There was nothing; no phone, no Ashley.

Erin ran throughout the house and found her in the bathroom.

"No. Ashley!"

She saw the pill bottle Ashley had been clutching, and she found the note.

To whom this may concern,

I'm done. You may not know what I was going through, but it was hell. I couldn't stop them from getting me, couldn't stop Sara before her death. I was the cause of practically everything wrong in my life, all because I was too weak. But now I'm leaving, so you all can live better without me.

To Rin, you've been amazing. Thank you for blissful evenings, chaotic mornings, and spectacular shows. I'll never forget all you've done for me, and I truly do love you.

To the Queens, you can quit the act. Now that I'm gone, you don't need to keep up the concerned charade you've been playing. I just want you to be happy, and I know that with me alive you'll never be.

And finally, to Sara. I know you're dead, but it's me who should've gone. I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time when you were an amazing friend.

I guess that's everything. I wish I could say I did something with my life, but I only ever caused pain.

I hope I'll be able to right all of my wrongs.

Ashley Seymour Paris~

"Ashley. No, you idiot!"

Erin grabbed her phone and called 112. No matter how mad she was at her, she had to save Ashley.

She had to save the one person worth more to her than everything.