He'd never be able to explain why he was in that city that night. Why he walked down that street, or why he stopped in front of the shop that held a poster with her face on it. Seeing her there smiling as she used to whenever she would show him her little drawings or whenever they would stay up at night and talk to each other. He couldn't explain the shadow of an ache that passed through his chest as the water droplets began to fall. The way her smile in that picture still shined despite the rain was something he could only admire in the way someone would look at the grave of a war hero - of a long lost friend. A sad smile found its way onto his face as he looked at that poster. Her dreams had come true. All that work and effort had come to finally reward her the way he knew it would. The blood and sweat she had shed during those early days was only the beginning. Those first few tears she allowed him to see had broken his heart. The defeat she had tasted was something he never wanted her to experience again. Now, look at her. At the top of her game, famous, formidable. He guessed it was a good thing he took a step back. They went their separate ways. Maybe if he had stopped her that day... Maybe if he had told her how he felt... If only he had realized sooner.
He took one final glance at the poster, a genuine smile on his features as he continued to walk down the street. She would always have his heart; May she be happy.
As she laid there, staring off into space, an image of a boy popped into her head. A boy who had shown her the ropes. A boy whose love knew no bounds. His black unkempt hair and his wide smile, his determination and his passion, even the way he would idly begin to play with her fingers when he was deep in thought. She would always think of the day they separated. She and her brother had to come back home. He went off to continue exploring the world. She would always cheer for him, always watch the news for any sign of him. Seeing him on the headlines always made her day and recordings of his feats were always a wonder to watch. Lately, he had been showing up less and less. He became an anomaly, someone who once shone with such promise only to fade away into the background. It was days like these, the rain slowly tapping at the windows, in which she would always remember him. Days when her heart ached.
It was as if her heart burned, falling Ash filling her vision as the flames continued to engulf her dreams.
A lone boy sat on a park swing. He was staring off into the sunset as he let his legs dangle a bit. A soft breeze blew through the park as his attention was elsewhere. A shy girl walked up to him, her red skirt and red bandana flowing lightly with the wind.
"Is anyone using this swing?" she asked timidly. A slight shake of his head allowed her to muster up the courage to sit beside him, a big grin highlighting her red cheeks. He smiled in return, looking back at the sky.
"I'm Ash. Ash Ketchum." He looked at her, noticing she was staring at him.
"I know." She smiled again, a hand was stuck out to him. "I'm May. May Maple!"