Page 36 of Tempting the President

They went to a restaurant that didn’t allow minors.

Oh God, oh God, I knew where this was going—-

They left...they left Ashton inside the car, with the air-conditioning on.

No, I don’t want to hear this, it’s not true—-

He was there for hours.

Oh God, while I was singing, while I was doing something I hated, he was there, locked inside—-

It didn’t help that he had a breathing problem.

No, no, no – what did that mean? Yes, I knew he had a hard time breathing, but what did he mean? That my brother started to choke and no one saw him? That he kept screaming for help and no one heard? That he thought we had all left him?

The car has a broken exhaust system. Your dad made the confession that the money for its repair – they ended up using it to pay for your suite at the hotel.

“But he’s okay, right?” I looked at Mr. Prescott, but I didn’t really see him. “He’s just sick, right?”

“Aria...”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to hear it.” I couldn’t bear to hear it. To think it. To imagine it.

“I’m sorry, Aria. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

I didn’t want to. God help me, I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to see because then it would mean—-

“Please...” My voice broke. “At least, please tell me, please lie to me, please just tell me it didn’t hurt for him.”

“It didn’t hurt.”

I looked at Mr. Prescott.

“He wouldn’t have felt a thing.”

I closed my eyes and my mind recreated the scene.

Ashton waving at me. “I love you.”

Me waving back at him. “I love you.”

And then they were driving away.

Ashton falling asleep as our parents talked about where they would go. Amelie choosing a fancy restaurant, Dan telling Ashton to stay and not leave the car while they go out for a very, very, very short while. Ashton nodding and meaning it because he was a good boy. The cutest, sweetest boy in the world.

Ashton, forcing himself to open his eyes to wave at them. Because, you know, he was the cutest, sweetest boy in the world.I love you, Mom. Dad.

And my parents waving back – no, no, no, they would have hugged him. Kissed him. They had to. They were his parents. They should have known, unconsciously, and they would have made him feel loved instead of making him feel like the burden I knew they thought he was.

I love you, Ashton.

I love you, kiddo.

Yes, that was what they would have said.

Then Ashton fell asleep, forever and ever.

The...End.