You sit down on your chair blankly.
Your name is Crystal and you've just completed the Elite Four.
The Gamecube rests where it always is. You spot your memory card still slotted in, the controller shunted to the side but otherwise the system is plugged in and ready to go. You could replay Kirby right now if you wanted to, even though it's been two years.
Your stuffed animal dolls aren't exactly where you left them. Your mom comes in every day to dust the room. Just by looking at the well taken care of shelves, you sense your mom's eagerness for you to be back, with a bit of irritation.
Your school books are on your shelves. They are slim volumes. You've referenced much larger and weightier tomes while searching for weaknesses and arcane items. In comparison, these look like grade schooler manuals. And that's exactly what they are.
On your desk is a very outdated PC. As a matter of fact, you seem to recall Professor Oak gifting this to your mom when you were around 4 years old. It's a very faded memory, a ghost of a smile and an embarrassed laugh. Maybe once you wanted to kick this PC, curse Gary for getting all the brand new items when all you have are cast offs and plush dolls instead of practice CDs, trainer preparation gadgets and virtual opponents. But now you just look at it.
"I won," you think.
But it doesn't feel like winning.
It just feels like another day in your life.
It feels like the sound of a book flipping over, of a chapter closing.
Well, better get started.
You move over to the Gamecube for a few hours zooming around in Kirby Air Ride before hitting your school manuals.
