Misty's Awakening
Part 23


She felt so close to being awake that it pained her.

Yes, she could feel pain. She could feel everything. She could feel that Ash had sat up and left a few minutes ago for no reason she knew, she could feel the draft of cool air as the door to her room opened a minute later, and she could feel the extra blanket that had been thrown over her, trapping the warmth which now she further felt. It must have been Ash who had found the blanket for her, then. But he didn't lay back down. He just sat on the edge of the bed and did nothing.

Misty worried for him. She knew he was worried for her, too, which was why she was so distressed. She didn't want him to be anxious...if only he could know for sure somehow that she felt alright, even if she couldn't move. She was alright. She was perfectly fine, except that she couldn't....couldn't....

So perhaps that made her *not* alright. She couldn't even move— how could she try to justify that she *was* alright?

How long had she been here....a day? A week? A month, a year, a decade, perhaps? A million years could have passed, she had no way of knowing. Time had little meaning to her anymore.

If it had, it would have been a nuisance to her.


* * * *


Mrs. Ketchem set the package in a pile upon the table, along with the others. Glancing up at the clock in the kitchen she noticed that it was nearly seven at night, and her mother's instinct took over. Where was Ash? He said he'd be back by six thirty. Maybe it'd been harder to get home than she'd thought....but she couldn't leave him with the car anymore, she had to go to work and she needed the car to get there.

He had money in his wallet, she mused— he'd be fine. But she'd feel much better if he'd get home. It was important. Especially since today was supposed to be a special day for him.

She sighed. The house was clean— she'd been tidying up ever since she got home from work. Hopefully that, along with her other small offerings, would help him out a little today.

The door knob jiggled. Mrs. Ketchem looked up, the sound of the rain forgotten, and thankfully it was Ash who entered into the living room. She jumped up and hugged his wet frame.

"Oh, thank God you made it alright...."

"Mom.....what's wrong?"

"I was worried, naturally. It's such bad weather out there, and I wasn't sure if you'd get back ok."

"Of course I would," he said gloomily, "I just missed the first bus so I had to wait a little longer. I left the hospital a little too late to get the first one."

"I'm glad you caught one, at least." Mrs. Ketchem fumbled with a piece of ribbon in her hand. "Oh, Ash! Come into the kitchen— there's something for you in there."

Shrugging, the boy— who acted much older than a boy now— followed his mother into the kitchen. She flicked on the light, and smiled at the sight.

Ash saw a stack of presents sitting on the table— at least ten or fifteen of them— and a cake next to them. He chuckled.

"I almost forget." He laughed a little harder in spite of himself.

"Happy birthday, Ash." His mother turned to him to give him another hug, but was stunned when she had to look up to see his face. "My, haven't you just grown so much without me even noticing!"

They both found themselves laughing a little at this, and they hugged again. Afterwards they sat down at the table together, and Ash shook his head.

"I don't need all this— it doesn't even feel like a birthday at all. I wasn't expecting this."

"Who are they from?" Mrs. Ketchem asked. "They've been coming in the mail all week, but I decided to surprise you with them all. I'm just not sure who sent them all."

"Let's see...." Ash inspected some of the return addresses on the outside of the packages. "Here's one from Professor Oak.....one from Todd...oh, and this one's from Brock and Violet."

"Ah, so sweet. It's been, what, two months since the wedding?"

Ash nodded. "About."

"They are so adorable together. Well, anyway, won't you open your gifts?" prompted Ms. Ketchem.

Ash bit his lip. "Naw. I think I'll just call it a night. I've got work tomorrow, you know."

"That's true...are you regretting it that you decided to take your old job back?"

"Yes, and no— I really need the cash." He was cutting himself a small piece of the cake that sat on the table now.

"Do you? What for?"

He took a bite. "Something very big."

"Sounds like you want more money than the PokeMart's going to give you. What are you planning— to buy a condo in Hawaii?"

"How did you know?" He finished the cake in one big bite and walked out of the kitchen.


* * * *


Ash was there. That was just how she wanted it.

It was like she was emerging from a cocoon. She felt so suddenly different that is shocked her.

She knew, without really knowing, what was going on. She was slipping out, falling onto a whole new plane....

Like she had just escaped from the ropes tied all around her, and now....

....now she was

f....

a....

l....

l.....

i....

n....

g.......

...

..

.

* * * *


The sun wasn't there when her eyes opened, like it had been the other time. No, this time it was gray that welcomed her.

But she *saw*, and therefore, she didn't care what it was that she saw.

Her eyes couldn't easily adjust to the new world. Actually, she thought, it wasn't new, but she'd missed it so much that it felt better than new. She felt her hand against the blankets, and she wiggled her fingers. They moved stiffly. She let out a small cry of uncontainable joy.

And Ash was there.

".....Misty....?" His voice was tentative.

"Ash." Her words were clear.

There was simply nothing more to say, for within an instant they're arms were overlapping each other. They cried together, then laughed together, and then began crying again. But through it all there was nothing more to say. It was sheer joy that illuminated from Ash and Misty as they embraced on the bed, and time seemed to stand still for.

It was only them, and nothing more.






------
....To Be Continued....
(just once more!)



AN Sorry, I have no clue when Ash's birthday really is so It's probably wrong, but you don't mind, right? Ok, I've decided that there will be ONE more part. There is so much going on and if I want this to stay a good quality story than it has to end. it's been a fun ride. I'll get the finale done as soon as I possibly can.