Ashley Swift

Me and my sister both were equally attached to her hip, but I was their first girl and that was all they wanted.

Me and my sister both were equally attached to her hip, but I was their first girl and that was all they wanted.

Eventually, yes. I remember nights of me begging and crying her not to leave. I didn't want her to go out. And just wanting her to stay home with us.

Eventually, yes. I remember nights of me begging and crying her not to leave. I didn't want her to go out. And just wanting her to stay home with us.

She would. And I was not like her at all.

She would. And I was not like her at all.

I felt very confused. I thought, you know, my mom will just come home later. But the reality started setting in of, okay, nobody's heard from her. And that's when I began to worry.

I felt very confused. I thought, you know, my mom will just come home later. But the reality started setting in of, okay, nobody's heard from her. And that's when I began to worry.

I don't remember the exact day of hearing about it. And I don't think that's how it was described to me. I think it was that mom wasn't going to be here anymore, and that mom wasn't coming back home. And that's when it really set in that that was my new life.

I don't remember the exact day of hearing about it. And I don't think that's how it was described to me. I think it was that mom wasn't going to be here anymore, and that mom wasn't coming back home. And that's when it really set in that that was my new life.

It's pretty hard because, you know, at that age, you're about to hit double digits. Everybody's excited to turn 10. And, you know, you're about to be the big kids in the school again before you go off to middle school. And I knew that I wanted her there for all of that.

It's pretty hard because, you know, at that age, you're about to hit double digits. Everybody's excited to turn 10. And, you know, you're about to be the big kids in the school again before you go off to middle school. And I knew that I wanted her there for all of that.

You know, my dad just tried to always stay strong for us.

You know, my dad just tried to always stay strong for us.

I think the older I got, the more that I wanted to know what happened. And then I got to an age where I realized that I would never know what happened.

I think the older I got, the more that I wanted to know what happened. And then I got to an age where I realized that I would never know what happened.

Obviously, she wasn't my mom, but I wanted my dad to be happy.

Obviously, she wasn't my mom, but I wanted my dad to be happy.

He was very involved. I mean, he was very, very supportive and very encouraging.

He was very involved. I mean, he was very, very supportive and very encouraging.