Addicted|n.h.|

The morning sunlight draped the girl's body as she lay limp on the bed, minutes before her alarm clock rang. She groaned, covering her ears with her pillow as her alarm clock rang out, waking her up and also her mother. Barging in, she shook the girl like there was an earthquake and told her to get ready.

"Honey, you have to leave in an hour and the journey's two hours long. That means you'll probably reach there at 10:00 a.m." her mother reminded her and left the room.

After five minutes, Ashley got up from her bed, flinging the blanket aside and slipping on her comfy shoes. Her eyes barely open, she went into the bathroom and pulled down her pants along with her underwear. She was an only child and her mother had brought her up single-handedly since her father had walked out on them way before she was born. She was sad that she didn't know who her father was but at the same time happy, since she didn't want a cowardly father who was afraid of things.

Pulling her pant back up, she flushed the toilet and grabbed her toothbrush, putting it under running water. Closing the tap, she applied toothpaste on it and once again put it under running water before resuming washing her teeth. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair flowing in all directions out of the bun she'd made before she slept last night. The baggy shirt and pants that she wore, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

In the past few days, she had barely managed to get sleep since she was up all night watching some television show. Bending down, she spit in the sink, her loose hair falling forward onto her face. Standing back up, she pulled her hair back and started washing her mouth. Finishing this task, she stepped into her bedroom and took a fresh towel. Entering the bathroom, she discarded her clothes in the laundry hamper and turned on the shower after hanging her towel.

Opening her hair, she let the cool water cascade down her body as her body relaxed. She was excited, too excited, that she was finally going to college. Away from her mother, just like she wanted to. Not like she didn't like her mother or anything, she and her mother were close. Too close. And she was happy with the type of relationship she had with her mother. They were practically best friends. Pushing the thought aside, she focused on having a nice bath.

Stepping out, she dried her hair first and then her body before wrapping the towel around herself and going into her bedroom. Choosing the first pair of under garments that caught her eye, she quickly slipped them on and then a pair of black jeans sported with a black t-shirt, along with her converse. She wasn't exactly a colorful person, hence the black color. She didn't bother to blow-dry her hair, as she let her straight thick black hair fall down her back.

Her mother always told her that she had the best hair in the entire family and she was blessed to have such hair. Ashley didn't care, really. A knock interrupted her chain of thoughts as her mother popped her head in, her brown her falling lightly onto her face.

"Honey, here's your suitcase. Getting packing. If you need me, just holler." and gave her the suitcase, a black one too. What are the odds!

She removed all her clothes from her closet and drawers and neatly placed them inside the suitcase. After ten minutes, she zipped up her bag and headed downstairs. It surprised her that she had little clothes, so little that they fit into one suitcase. As she reached downstairs, she noticed her mother holding an album, wiping away tears as they followed down her cheeks. She didn't really want all the drama and the tears, but deep down she knew she'd miss her mother too.

After eighteen years of staying together, letting go was going to be hardest for her mother, she knew it. But she had to act brave and strong for the two of them.

"Ahem." she said, clearing her throat.

Her mother quickly shut the album and wiped away her tears before turning to face her daughter. Looking at her daughter, made her heart swell. She looked grown up 'cause she was and she was going to leave for college. Had it been this long? Had time passed by so quickly? In the blink of an eye?

"Are you ready, sweetheart?" her mother asked, her voice quavering a little.

"Yes mom." Ashley replied as she put a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Then let's go." her mother said, pulling her hair back in a ponytail, short waves forming. Her mother weakly smiled at her before grabbing her car keys and her purse, taking the bag from Ashley's hand.

After she was done loading the bag in the trunk, her mother quickly sat down in the car, starting the engine before she slowly drove out of the drive way and onto the road. The entire journey to Ashley's college which had a dorm adjoined to it, was quiet except for the radio blaring some random old songs. Her mother wanted to say so many things yet she stayed quiet, as she didn't want her daughter to think that she was some crazy old lady getting hyper for nothing.

Getting down from the car, Ashley's mother opened the trunk and Ashley took her suitcase, setting it down on the ground. She looked at her mother fondly as the wind blew in her face, causing all her hair to be swooped behind and her mother's in front. They stood looking at each but not saying anything, like they understood each and every word that passed between them.

"I love you sweetheart." her mother finally said.

"I love you too mom." Ashley said as she hugged her mother.

"Take care. If you have a problem call me. "her mother said, still holding her in her arms, not wanting this moment to be over.

"Bye mom." Ashley said, as she let go.

Looking back, she saw her mother just standing there, not saying a word or even waving 'cause she knew how much her daughter hated it.

"Lame." said a boy who was now walking side by side Ashley.

"Excuse me?" she said, feeling offended.

"I'm Niall Horan by the way." he said, his voice laced with a thick Irish accent.

She continued staring at him till this girl walked upto them with a clipboard in hand. Before she could say a word, the boy turned in another direction and continued walking till he was out of sight. She couldn't believe that someone like that was in her college. She pushed him out of his mind and thoughts as she told her name to the girl standing in front of her whose name was Clair Smith.

"Your dorm no. is 211. It's the first floor, straight. And your roommate is...." she said, looking down the list once again, "Angela Lawson." she smiled a weird smile and told Ashley to check out the new room. And her "roomie" had already reached, so they could have their intros. and what not.

Ignoring the girl, Ashley made her way to her dorm room. Reaching the first floor, she walked straight till she saw her dorm room no.211 printed in bold. She regretted opening the door, 'cause what she saw next, she didn't want to see it ever again. But it was already too late. The damage was done, she was scarred.

Notes