Ash P.O.V
I fluttered my eyes open, only to close them again due to the harshness of the light. I placed my hand in front of my eyes and then slowly opened them again. I stayed in that position for a few moments, trying to get a feel of my surroundings.

I heard the monitor on my right continuously sound every second or so and realised that it was a heartbeat, my heartbeat. I watched it for a couple of minutes, still not fully adjusted to being in the hospital bed, until a nurse came into the room.
She had a small clipboard in her hand was writing something down until she got to the side of me bed, only then did she see me.

"Oh you're awake! Congratulations!" I didn't know why she had said congratulations, and the way she had said it as well. It felt rehearsed, as if she had done the same thing for the last five years. But looking at her again she seemed to be in her late forties so I wouldn't be surprised if I was right. Before I could ask her why I was in hospital in the first place she had beat me to it. "Now where's that girl? She was just here a minute ago." She was looking at the door but then turned to face me "She never left your side you know, it was nice to see you have such caring people around you".

There it was again, the tone in her voice completely made me feel like she had said the same thing multiple times and made her kind words seem scripted.
It was a moment or two afterwards when I did listen again to what she said in my head, rather the way she had said it. "Girl? What girl?"

"She looked about the same age as you actually. Short blonde hair, small black bag. She looked quite pretty for a teenager." It didn't take long for the gears in my head to start turning and I knew it had to have been Serena. I didn't ask any further questions because I doubt she knew anything else important.

She left the room after checking my data on the screen one more time, leaving the room in a anxious silence. I was never one for hospitals, they always felt confining. I like to let me legs and arms loose and always be moving, so being stuck in this bed didn't make me feel too pleased. I tried getting up, so I pushed myself up using my arms ignoring the tired strains coming from them. I sat up and swung my feet off the bed and pushed myself off.

I instantly winced in pain and sat back down, my right leg throbbing as I could feel blood flowing through it. I lifted my medical gown up and saw a long scar trailing from my knee to just above my ankle. How did this happen? Wait!? The car was going to hit Serena! But because I'm in here must mean I got to her in time, but is she okay?

I tried once more getting up, only to be met with another failure. There was not much I could do so I sat back down, leaving me to my thoughts in this empty room. My eyes wandered across the room, noticing all the lightly engraved patterns in the wallpaper, the medical equipment cupboards near the door, the clump of tissues and plastic gloves that overflowed the bin.

My eyes travelled across the room and stopped when I looked at the desk that was on the left of my head. My bag and phone were tidily kept there and I reached out to grab my phone. As I did I felt a sharp pain in my finger, making me retract my arm back. I looked at my index finger to see a small cut with tiny droplets of blood dripping out.

Damn. I bit back a curse as I looked around for some plasters or tissues or anything that could help. My gaze landed on a first aid kit, and luckily it was just below where I was, in a open cupboard. After applying the plaster and disinfectant, the sharp pain subsided and I looked over at the desk more carefully to find the causation of my papercut.

Underneath my phone was a piece of paper, nicely folded and lined. I had noticed that it had writing inside as their were little circles where the ink seeped through. Almost like some water had been sprayed on the paper. I picked both my phone and the paper up.
I first checked my phone for the time and it was around eleven in the morning. I also noticed that I had a lot of messages from people asking where I was, if I was okay, and the sorts. I rested my phone back on the desk as right now the paper had piqued my curiosity. I carefully opened it and noticed the handwriting was familiar. It was Serena's, but for someone who took pride in looking good and etiquette, it looked rushed. Imperfect by her standards.
A feeling of anxiety washed over me and I heard myself unconditionally take a large breath and slowly exhale. I began to read it.

To Ash,

Hey. Sorry I don't really know what to say if I'm honest. What do you tell a person who's sitting in hospital because of you? But I guess I should start by saying thank you.

I owe you my life Ash, I would be where you are now or worse if you hadn't followed me. I was so caught up in trying to get away from the house, from Barry, from my past, that I didn't even realise that I had run across the road. But as fate would have it, you had followed me.
I saw you push me out of the way. I saw you slide on top of the car as if you were a rag-doll. I saw the paramedics rip your shirt and defibrillate you. In that moment, If I could've breathed my life into your mouth I would have. I had cried so much in those moments and I can't thank you enough Ash.

But not just for saving me, for everything. Who knew leaving my phone behind in class could ever turn out to be such a good thing? That day when you walked behind the school was the day you changed everything. You gave me friends, you cared about me, you made me smile, but I gave nothing back.

I was lonely Ash, but you took all of that away. Every toothy grin, every bad joke, every silly prank you would pull put made me forget who I was, even If it was only temporary. For that I will always be grateful. Gary and the others accepted me, and I always felt a sense of belonging. Like I was a part of something, like I mattered. But good things don't last forever, and it was something I should've known.

I became dependent, I expected you to be there when I fall, to talk to me when I felt upset, to be my two o'clock friend on those sleepless nights. And I hate myself for that. You were like a drug to me, and I became an addict. You helped me with so much but asked nothing in return. Why?

Everyone has problems, so why did you never tell me yours. But then again, I never asked. You suffered in silence while I gave you my pain. People like you don't deserve this world. You give so much and ask for little to nothing in return. You became my air, and now I'm choosing to stop breathing you in.

I feel lucky, to have met you. But if being around you means that I'll keep needing you with every step I take, then only one of us will actually be where we wanted to go. I can't live with the guilt of using you to get myself back together. I was broken when you met me, but when you came you pieced me back together. But the glue never truly dried, and the cracks will always come through.

Wounds heal, but scars don't. And when your scars run as deep as mine, the only way to be truly free is to let go of the past and present, and find something to look forward to. I've decided that I'm not going to be someone who relies on others to make their way. And it's thanks to you, but if i'm going to do what I say, then I need to be away from you.

I'm sorry Ash but this is goodbye. I need to find out who I am and I won't be able to do that if I know you'll be there to pick me up every time I fall. I need to learn to stand up by myself.

I was never one for goodbyes, but I guess I should be grateful that I'll get to say goodbye one final time. I can't remember the last thing I told my Dad, I just hope it was something important. Sometimes I wish that we never became close, just so saying goodbye wouldn't have been that bad, but it's something that we need to do. Something I need to do.

Goodbye Ash. Maybe we will meet again sometime. If that happens I want you to see me as a strong independent woman, but I hope we don't meet. You're too good for me and for your own good, and I don't want to stand in front of your dreams and ambitions. I haven't yet told my Mum that I'm leaving, but after I go, I want you to do me one last favour.

Keep an eye on her Ash, she makes out to be strong but ever since Dad passed away she's never been the same, I guess that's something we have in common. We never got over his death. Protect her Ash, but I already know you will. That's the type of person you are.

I'll miss you Ash, but this is for the best. I feel lucky to have been able to meet someone as special as you, and I won't forget you. Even if I try.

Love,

Serena Yvonne

PS: Never change Ash Ketchum. For you are perfect. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I stared at the letter. Not moving. Not saying anything. Barely breathing. The heart rate monitor was getting faster and faster, but I never heard it. Jumped off the bed and ran outside. I ignored the pain of my leg, for my heart was hurting more. As much as I wanted to run, my leg held me back but I willed myself to push harder. I limped quickly down the corridor and followed the signs towards the entrance.

People were giving me weird looks, but I didn'tt have time to give them a second glance. All I was concerned about was finding her. I have to find Serena. I pushed past a large crowd near the cafeteria and had the entrance in my sights. I pushed harder and harder, hoping she hadn't left yet.

I forced my weight onto the doors and they eventually opened. As stepped out of the hospital, I wiped my forehead which was now dripping with sweat. My eyes darted around the area, hoping to find her, find anything that could tell me where she was, but as each second passed, my hopes faded and faded.

Until there was nothing left. She had gone, and it felt like she took a part of me with her when she did. I just never told her how much.

Author's Note

A big chapter this, and with it ends the school/college arc. But there is plenty more to this book so don't think it's close to ending just yet. I thought about it and made the decision to make the characters older because a school fanfic is really common, and so I wanted to do something different. I may get some criticism for it but please review and comment guys. Any ideas you may have, PM me or add a comment and i'll try and incorporate it, in the coming chapters. Also i'm interested in finding out what you guys think of the new cover. Feel free to comment, review and give feedback. Thanks!