To Tristan, Gilbert, Mark, and Alex. Thank you for all the help and support you've given me, I don't think I'd be as confident as I am now if it weren't for you guys.
Colin looked out of the window and sighed.
"I am, so bored" he said. "My homework is done, I've played all of my video games to death, and there's nothing on TV." Colin threw his hands up in defeat. It was a typical Sunday afternoon, warm weather, clear skies and a pleasant breeze... Not that it really mattered though, Colin was depressed and didn't care. There wasn't much to do, and Colin wasn't what you'd call energetic, and since his mother was at work he was stuck inside, locked away in his bedroom, bored out of his mind. He let his eyes wander the countryside from his bedroom window for what seemed like, the hundredth time today. From the lush green grass and wild flowers growing all over, to the crystal clear stream that ran from beside the forest, beyond the vast hills in the distance...
"The scenery looks nice, living out in the country does have it's benefits, I guess." Colin thought to himself.
Colin looked back at the forest. From there, he could see the outskirts of town and his friend's place not far from it. But that wasn't important right now, as Colin was busy watching a flock of Pidgey, with interest.
"I wish I had a Pokémon," He sighed, "Battling trainers, Collecting Gym Badges, going on an adventure..."
Colin hung his head in defeat. All he ever wanted to do was explore the world with his friends beside him. Colin remembered. Ever since trainer school, they'd always be sitting around the jungle gym together at lunch, talking about going on a big adventure. All of them, and everything they'd set out to achieve along the way. Colin didn't have much to say throughout as he rather preferred to sit back and take it all in, it was exciting nevertheless. But that was all in the past. Regardless though, Colin couldn't help but wonder if his friends still remembered those days.
Colin was quickly bought out of deep thought as he heard a car pull up in the drive way and a door opening and closing. He lifted his head up groggily and turned around.
"Mum's home at last, Arceus, it seemed like she was gone forever!" exclaimed Colin, to no one in particular as he got up and walked downstairs into the living room. Colin heard his mother fumbling with the keys, presumably trying to find the correct one for the front door. He came to her aid and unlocked the door for her.
Colin's Mother gave him a kiss on the cheek."Oh! Thank you Colin, and how's my little boy?" she asked, ruffling his hair. "Was he alright at home?"
Colin nodded in response,"Yeah, I'm alright Mum." he paused, smiling as he reached down before he continued. "Here, let me get those for you." as he grabbed two small shopping bags near his Mother's feet.
" Thank you dear. Could you put those on the kitchen table for me, please?"
Colin nodded and proceeded to the kitchen. As he carefully placed the grocery bags down on the dinner table and started to unpack swiftly.
It was a chefs kitchen, and an impeccably clean one at that. Filled with all kinds of different appliances gleaming radiantly.
Although everything inside and out of the house looked perfectly normal, albeit slightly dull, it had this, feeling of emptiness to it. Like something, or someone was missing... It wasn't very noticeable, but it was there if you looked hard enough. Colin didn't have any other family members apart from his Mother. He never knew his father, there weren't any photo albums or pictures of him, let alone of Colin and his mother, anywhere to be seen in the entire house. Colin was pretty much clueless as to who he was. It was like he never existed to begin with. All Colin knew, was that he was very different to other men his Mother knew, and that he left her shortly after Colin was born.
"I still can't get my head around it... Every time I mention something about Dad, Mum always tenses up and tells me not to worry about him... She seems uncomfortable talking about him in front of me... I wish I knew what was going on..."
Colin thought. He shook his head as if to bring himself back to reality. (There's no use worrying about it.) Besides, Mum always seems to be upbeat and positive so whatever happened mustn't of been too traumatic.
He heard footsteps and turned around to see his Mum walking into the kitchen, bright and cheery like always.
"Thank you so much Colin! I don't know what I'd do without my little baby here to help me!" Colin's Mum cried, embracing him an a big cuddle. Shaking him this way and that.
"N-No really...It's fine mum, I was, only helping, out." Colin stammered, squirming under his mum's warm embrace.
Colin's Mum ruffled his hair and smiled. "I'm going to prepare dinner now, okay?" she said, turning to the side to look at the clock in the living room.
"It's only five." she told Colin, grabbing his attention. "You can go outside and play if you like. But don't go further than Ilex Forest!" she said, raising a finger.
"Thanks Mum!" said Colin, eagerly jogging down the hallway to the door, he was about halfway out before his Mother stopped him.
"Colin!" she shouted. Running to meet him at the door. "Dinner should be ready at seven so make sure your back before then."
"Yes Mum."
"And don't go wandering into the cave, Colin! It's dangerous in there."
"No Mum, I wont"
"Okay dear, see you soon then." said Colin's Mum, pecking him on the forehead.
Colin nodded and walked off into the distance. Rolling his eyes and chuckling to himself, despite being nearly fifteen... His Mother still talked to him like he was a child, a very careless one at that.
