A variety of shades and hues danced before his gaze, leaving the aching young man very bewildered and dazed. Slowly, the fuzzy shapes before him began to grow clear, and his ears picked up concerned cries of someone he held dear. Gently, he began to pick himself up off of the ground, but his insides screamed in agony, forcing him back down.
"Drew!" a girl exclaimed, her voice shaking as she spoke to him, "Thank heaven you're all right," she murmured, her tone sounding grim.
"May?" he whispered, once again trying to lift up his head, "What happened to me? Why am I in a hospital bed?"
May took a deep, nervous breath, wiped the last tear from her cheek, and brushed his bangs from his face before she began to speak. "I had pre-contest jitters, so we went out for fresh air. The sun shone so brightly while the cool breeze ruffled my hair…." Suddenly she looked down, as if she could not meet his eyes. "Then a huge gust came and took my bandana to the skies."
Drew then noticed the lack of her traditional head gear. As May struggled to speak once more, he noticed a new tear.
"I shrieked in surprise, and you rushed after it right away. You managed to catch it, but then the land below gave way. We shouldn't have walked by a steep cliff, but it was too late. You rolled down the hill, over stones, at an alarming rate. I don't know what stopped your fall, but by the time I reached you… you were unconscious, and your body was all black and blue. I'm sorry for crying, but it was a horrible sight. We're at the Pokémon Center, and I'm glad you're all right!"
She stopped withholding her tears and let her sobs all break free. Drew reached up his quivering arm to touch her face gently. "Come here," he murmured, and she moved over an inch or two. "Closer," he urged, "for you're too far and that simply won't do."
She moved closer until her face was nearly touching his. With great effort, Drew pushed himself up and gave her a kiss. She seemed startled and pulled back, not wanting to hurt her friend. "I'm fine," he assured her, not wanting this moment to end. He brushed tears from her face, and they began to kiss once more. Drew could feel warmth begin to rise from deep within his core. They started softly, then became more passionate with time. Drew never wanted this to end, this moment so sublime. Alas, after a few minutes, he had to pull away. His chest and ribs were aching again, much to his dismay.
"We can continue when I feel well again… understand?"
May nodded. "Until then, though, I won't let go of your hand."