"Karma has no menu. You get served what you deserve."

❛❛「₪」❜❜

Ash's P.O.V.

"Why are you up so early?" I asked John, who had been lying on the bed and staring at me, giving me looks like new lovers do.

"How could I sleep when you were up all night, waiting for the big day?" He chuckled, his eyes still stuck at me.

"Honestly, I would never sacrifice my sleep if I were you."

"I bet you would. Also, the cab dude is gonna be there by 5:45. SHARP." 

"OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY-" I said, singing. I would have continued to do that until my larynx showed support, if John wouldn't have smacked me in the head.

"Shut up. Don't be a nincompoop."

"Who uses 'nincompoop'? I mean what's fun in saying 'poop'?"

"Are you done with the rant?" He rolled his eyes at me.

"That wasn't even a mini rant-"

"I don't even care." He shrugged.

"Stop being rude." I laughed.

"I am being rude? No Ashleigh Bradbury. You are being rude to the word."

"John I swear I don't even see why I fell in love with-" And before I could complete, he left.

"Hey wait. Come back here."

He didn't.

"COME BACK!"

He didn't.

"WHATEVER! I DON'T EVEN CARE IF YOU DON'T!" I said, getting back to what I was doing.

Today is the big day. I will meet her. My mother. I have been waiting to meet her since five long years. Every second without her seemed like centuries. And now that I was finally meeting her, I just couldn't wait. I just wanted to go to her. I just wanted to pull her into a hug and tell her how much I loved her. And I wanted to tell her how I was left with not much time. She would come back. I was sure. No matter what, she would. She is a mother after all. Blood bonds are pretty strong. She wouldn't hate me for dad. She must have probably missed me too. Just like the way I did. Maybe she would have wanted to come back, but her ego stopped her from doing so. But I really didn't mind. She would be back, what else did I need? After having her back, my life would be complete. I would have by me, the two most important people of my life. My mother, and my Jonathan. The man who made all this possible. If it wasn't for him, I would never get here. I can proudly say that he is the perfect man. Just like those Prince Charming girls fancy. My life is like a fairy tale. Everything is a mess, but it ends up perfect. 

"Ash!" John called from outside.

"Yep?" I said, going to him.

"Food?"

"SURE! What have you made?"

"Egg toast."

My eyes shone. You could see the sparkles in them, showing high hopes. 

"Sunn-" I was about to ask, when he interrupted.

"Scrambled." He grinned.

"WHA-" I said, going all dramatic.

"Jonathan Hunt!" I yelled. "When you know that I hate scrambled eggs you are not supposed to make them! I mean, either your an idiot or your an oldie who cannot remember basic stuff. Who the hell eats scrambled eggs?! Just why!? I hate you so much. You know what, have breakfast by yourself! I am gonna be hungry! I don't need your food, you selfish brat! I-" 

And before I could rant further, he stuffed a bite of scrambled eggs in my mouth and . . . okay I won't lie, it- it was good. But I was definitely not telling him that.

"Yeah it's okay. I mean, even rocks taste delicious when your hungry."

"Your bad at it." He chuckled, spreading another egg on the pan.

"At what?"

"Acting." He giggled even more.

"Uh-" I opened my mouth to say something, but I had no idea what 'something' was supposed to be. So I shut it.

"Did you have the pills Dr. Brown gave us last night?"

"Uh- no I forgot." I said, biting my tongue.

"Ash, start taking care of yourself."

"I know, I know. I am just new to this." I made an excuse, walking out of the kitchen in order to prevent further talk.

John came out too. He grabbed me by my waist from behind and whispered in my ears, "Your life is no joke. Have the pills."

"Can you not see I don't want to talk about this? I am just trying to forget all of th-"

"Forgetting the problem won't solve it. You have to face it. So stop with the forgetting business and learn to face it. Because I can't lose you Ash."

I turned around to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I am sorry."

"I love you." He said. That was when some weird smell entered our noses. John sniffed, and realized that something was burning. He ran into the kitchen.

I realized that for John, his food was more important than me.

I don't mind Jonathan Hunt, because by Ashleigh's law of Equity, I love food more than you. 

I smirked mentally and sat on the table, waiting for him. We had food and left by 6:30 a.m. in the cab.

While we sat in the car, we noticed the beautiful sunrise. John sat beside me and enjoyed the beautiful scene along.

"This will be the last sunrise of your life which starts with pain. I promise you, Ash." He told me. "Believe me, love can not always be a myth." 

"I do believe in you John." I smiled.

"Okay now hear me out, we reach Connecticut by 8:30. I have booked a hotel room online. We get there, you take some rest, and only by 9:30 we start looking for her. I will make a call in the school and ask for an appointment." He said.

"But John, I-"

"No arguments." He said.

"Alright." I said, resting my head on his shoulder, falling asleep.

*9:00 a.m.*

I woke up to the sound of John yelling, "YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS."

"Are you okay?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"Shit! I am sorry, I woke you up." 

"No it's fine, I think I slept a lot anyways. What time is it?"

"It is around 9:00 a.m. and I want you to stand up and came here." He smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen him smile.

I stood up, and walked to the other side of the bed, where John stood. And I hadn't even imagined that he would be going down on his knees.

"Before I begin, just don't interrupt." He said. I nodded my head in disbelief of what was happening.

"So, Ashleigh Bradbury, I know this may be the most weird and the most abrupt way to start, but trust me, I am not some John Green, who knows the art of playing with words. Nor am I some John Cena, who may be there to smash every guy who puts his eye on you. I am just a very normal John. A guy who's nickname comes as an inspiration from the- not so very famous- chef, John Torode. Making these references doesn't even make sense, but as I said, I am no good with words.

Ashleigh, I may not be there by your side every time you need me, because well- everyone says forever is a myth. And every time you think of me, I won't be able to make a portal and come to you like Doctor Strange does, which isn't because I am just a DC person and not into Marvel, but because I am not that powerful and worthy. But what I know, Ash, is that even if I can't make a portal and come to you, you have made a one-way portal in my heart. And what I know, is that forever is definitely a myth. Do you know why? Because I will love you till the forever of my life. But when its over, this forever will be a myth among the other mortals.

By the way, not that it matters to you but it took me another forever to write that particular line. So hopefully, you got the pun. And even if you didn't, I will explain it to you after my speech is over.

Ashleigh, nothing, absolutely nothing in the world, can be enough to express my love for you. Not the words, for this mouth often speaks what's not true. And not even the looks, for they rest in the eyes which has become so accustomed to the fake, that it starts believing it as the very truth. And for the most, even if I tear my heart out and give it to you, it won't suffice. Because by entering in it through the one-way portal, you have made it your's already. And gifting you what is already yours, won't even count. And now . . . I am getting a Shakespearean vibe from my speech. So we better end it here.

I just want to give you this ring which I am already wearing, because- pardon me I ran out of time and resources. And before I hold your hand and slide this in your finger, I just have one thing to ask. I am not going to ask you if I have the permission to do so. Because I know it's a yes. I just want to ask . . .

Ashleigh . . . 

Did you get the pun?"

His words left me awestruck. My day couldn't have been more happier. Before he could slide the ring, I let my body lose control and fall on him. He hugged me and awkwardly said, "Ash listen to me."

"No." I refused, tears welling up in my eyes.

"It's important."

"What?" I said, leaving his grip and looking at him, the tears now rolling down.

"Did you get the pun?" He asked, with a serious look on his face.

"I did." I said. Despite the tears rolling down endlessly, I laughed. That was the part of John I fell in love with. He had his ways to make me laugh when I was at my worst, or at my saddest best.

He wiped my tears and said, "Shall we leave?"

"Yes." I said. 

"Before we meet her, I need you to promise me you won't let her words affect you. No matter what she says, you'll still be the same Ash you were. Because you tried, you didn't give up." He said.

"I- I promise." I said, not promising just him, but also myself.

Connecticut was a beautiful place. While New York had been surrounded by its ugly beauty, Connecticut was colours and just colours all around. Full of nature, full of peace and full of real beauty. It could make you go zen. Nature has a beautiful power, which mankind doesn't value. People often act foolish, to not see how amazing the world looks with the grass so green, the beautiful flowers, so red as if they got their colour from some dripping blood, so blue as if they stole it from the sky, so white as if dipped in milk and so yellow as if the sun itself shone within them. The natural wood coloured bark, the scent of the flowers reaching the nose, honey-bees in their bee hives, butterflies sucking nectar and birds chirping on the barks, giving a home to their little babies, or their little eggs, all the gifts of Mother Nature.

As we reached the school, I could see John's face turning a bit pale. 

"John, are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah, am fine. Let's go, shall we?"

"Yup." I said, as we reached the entrance of St. Mary High School. And the very moment I saw the gate, there it was, another flash of dreams.

It was us, again. Me and John, or say, Candice and Ed. Ed leaned to the wall of the gate, and I stood in front of him, with a pile of books in my hand. We were both laughing, when Ed said,"In fact, last month on his birthday, a bunch of the high school jerks gifted wrapped a dead frog they stole from the dissection lab."

"Oh my god, how did he react?" I said, in the middle of my laughs.

"Nothing, just his basic HoLy FroGs." Ed enacted the 'him' we were talking about. "Poor Wanket." He laughed.

"I can't get enough with your jokes." I chuckled.

"Ash?" John got me back. 

"Uh yeah. I was just- just thinking about mom. When do we meet her?" I asked.

"In a few minutes. Lemme just go and check out with somebody." John said, going inside.

I kept wondering about all that had been happening to me in the past few days. Flashes, weird dreams, premonition of John's face, this disease, that fight with Katie, falling for John, and now here I am. I used to be a normal girl, doing a job then coming back home, giving time to cry for her mother, and then ending the day. My life changed it's route completely. What else does life have in store for me?

"There is a small problem." John said, running towards me.

"What happened?"

"She is on a leave. We have to go to her house." He said, panting.

"The address?"

"Syra has texted it to me. I'll book a cab."

"Okay." I said.

It seemed like an eternity as we waited for the cab to arrive, and a bigger eternity as we reached her house. And then, I stood at the door. A beautiful garden, white fence and a row house. The nameplate read "Bradbury's".

So she still uses the surname.

"Ring the bell." John said.

"No. You do that." I told him.

"How will you face her if you can't even ring the bloody bell?" John whispered to me. "Do it!"

"But-"

"C'mon. This is no rocket science. Breathe in."

And I did.

"Now ring the bell."

And I did.

Two seconds later, I heard the door opening, and as it opened, I was living the moment I was dying for. It was her, my mom.

"Ashleigh?" She said. My ears had been dying to hear that.

"Mom!" I cried, pulling her and hugging her tight.

"Leave me! What are you doing?" She said, pulling away. "How did you get here?"

"Can we talk about that later? Please? Can I come in?" I asked, resisting my tears.

"What? Wh-"

"You won't stop your daughter from getting in, would you ma'am?" John said loudly, as if on purpose.

"Get in." Mom said, giving looks to John.

As we got in, we came across a hall. She took us near the fireplace and we sat at the sofa.

"Who the hell are you?" Mom asked John.

"Your son-in-law." John smirked, acting like a jerk.

"I don't believe you actually found a boyfriend. Like, you didn't deserve-"

"Everybody knows who deserves how much Mrs. Bradbury. Don't make me open my mouth. You'll be embarrassed." John said. 

I looked at him and whispered, "For god's sake, will you stop?"

"I would, if your mothe-"

"John please. Don't ruin everything already. You do know how long it took to get here, don't you?"

"Fine." John said, getting calm.

"I- I wanted to say something mom."

"What? I am not coming back to you Ashleigh."

"Mom I can die!" I said, breaking down out of the blue.

"Huh?"

"Yes. I can die. I have AIDS."

"Well uh-" Mom looked down at the floor. Maybe, she did feel bad. After all, she was my mother. "If your not making this up, then hun, I am sorry. But-"

"But what?" John said.

"Hold your horses young man." Mom laughed. "Ashleigh, you deserve it." She said. Those words, they hit hard. I felt the whole world inside of me fall. Maybe, now I did deserve dying, for death is perhaps better than living in hell itself. And what I now knew is that I did not deserve such a treatment.

"But Ashleigh, I was wondering how'd you get this. I mean, were you roaming around being a slut?" She laughed.

"NOW THAT'S ENOUGH! YOU ARE MY MOM'S AGE, AND I HAD BEEN RESPECTING YOU. BUT YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS SHIT! LISTEN TO ME YOU FOOLISH LADY, SHE DESERVES A THOUSAND TIMES MORE THAN YOU DO! Ash, let's leave. Beggars shouldn't be begged, because they don't have anything to give." John gave her a death stare, took my hand and started walking away. I wasn't crying, I realised. I did break a bit, but I didn't even care anymore. The lady did suck. And I didn't even care to look at her face, even once.

While we walked through the hallway, we bumped into a guy. He looked mid-aged. Perhaps as big as mom. Hearing his loud footsteps, mom came outside. She looked tense, her face was covered in sweat and she changed her sight from us to the man constantly.

"J- James, your early." She said, hesitantly.

"Who are they?" The man, now called James, asked looking, at us.

"T- They-"

"I am Jonathan Hunt, she is Ashleigh Bradbury, and may I know how is that even your business, sir?"

"Ashleigh Bradbury?"

"I am assuming it isn't the first time your hearing that word, are you?" John said. I had never seen this side of John.

"She is alive?" He asked mom. "You lied to me, Jasmine?"

"No I thought she-"

"DID YOU LIE TO ME JASMINE?" He said, louder. "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR STUPID EXPLANATION! JUST YES OR NO?"

"James I-"

"YES OR NO!?"

"Yes." Mom said, crying. I had no clue what was going on. While I kept wondering, James went closer to her and yelled at her face.

"You said she died right?" He grunted. "That was why I accepted to get married to you again! How can I further trust you, huh? You think you are so smart? Your a lady, just a lady. Did you forget that, huh? Did you forget that Jasmine?"

Mom didn't reply. She just cried. And I now knew who it was. It was him. James. James Bradbury.

"You'll pay for this, you idiot! Let's repeat history. I am leaving you." He said.

"But James, we have a son!" Mom cried more. So now she had a son? My brother? 

"I am taking him with me, sweetheart. I leave this home for you. Now enjoy your life." He said, and next he was seen walking up the stairs.

I saw John. He was smiling. 

"That is what you call Karma. Justice finds its way, ma'am." John told her, and we walked out. This, perhaps, was the best day of my life. For justice was served.

My life, indeed, was a fairy tale. Everything was a mess, but it ended up perfect.

Author's Note

Well, I've got nothing to say. How about you say instead? How was it, eh? Liked it? :D

TPWK.
Vreha x