The fragments of her memories had struggled to remember so many things – the ethereal features in her mother's face, the pearly white smile her father wore even as he lay in his death bed, the birth date of her beloved Espeon…

She forgot it all.

Such a shame, what a pity…

But his face, even after two years, remained forever etched into her mind like someone had snapped a picture and stitched it into the back of her brain. The delicate timbre of his voice wove its way into her thoughts, the blazing determination that flashed in his eyes mirrored itself in hers, the strength of his grip still had her fingers aching from when they had last touched.

She remembered him.

It was just a crush, just a silly little…

Her chin was recumbent on her fist, elbow propped up on the window sill. Her calculated stare passed over every minor detail in the landscape outside with disinterest. She should have forgotten him by now. He hadn't even made a move to contact her.

He obviously didn't care.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Espeon mewled and curled into her lap, purring with content. In turn her unevenly clipped nails raked through the Espeon's velvety pelt, slowly at first, then slower, slower. She wanted to cry, to run to her room and weep like a girl who had been bullied at school by the popular kids.

She had done it many times before, but only when her hopes skyrocketed at the thought that every single piece of mail was a letter from him—she once foolishly believed they would declare his love to her.

So naïve, always feeling sorry for yourself.

She was broken now, but it wasn't his fault. It was hers. Or maybe they were both equally to blame. Perhaps. She hadn't heard from him in two years… none too surprisingly. They had known each other for what, two days? He had probably forgotten ALL about her.

Yeah, she was stupid for ever hoping he'd come back to her.

But I can pretend.

She imagined that he — clad in silver armor that absorbed the rays of the setting sun and reflected them two fold — came galloping up to her window on a Rapidash, his trusty Pikachu on his shoulder. She — wrapped in a stunning dress with Espeon at her heels—would call out to him, wave, blow kisses, express every last ounce of gratitude she had.

And he would battle the saffron Dragonite guarding her; win; sweep her off her feet and they would ride off to be together. Forever.

Forever isn't always. Just a children's reassurance.

No more tears, she decided. No more. Instead she would cling to the laughs they had shared together—selfishly, never let go—and the words they exchanged. She would wait for him—foolishly, as always—but promised herself she wouldn't throw herself at him when he did return. When. If.

She sighed, eyes glazed over with despair.

All my hopes turned to ashes.


A/N: What the HELL did I just WRITE? o_O I don't even know myself... It was one-sided AshxAnabel. I promise to write something happier next time!

-Please review and tell me what you thought. :D Because I don't know what to think XD

-Happy Birthday Chash!