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Haunting Memories

"Mom, I'm home!"

5 years down the road, Ash Ketchum, 8 years old, raced into Delia's house, slamming the door after him. "Mom?"

No reply.

"Mom?" Ash wandered into the living room.

Kneeling on the floor, Delia was staring at the TV, which was blaring out the news. Her entire face, right down to her lips, was completely white. She was motionless.

"Mom?" Ash said quietly.

Delia turned to face him, her expression twisted in anguish. Tears were in her eyes as she beckoned him closer. When he was within arm's reach she pulled him close to her and onto her lap, a place he had outgrown.

"Evelyn is dead," she said painfully. "They found her body in the Viridian River only a few hours ago."

Ash was shocked. Delia had talked about her friend, Evelyn, so often in the past that Ash felt that he knew this woman personally. His mother's vague explanations as to where Evelyn was now, how she was doing and whom she was married to had left Ash feeling snubbed and shut out, as if Delia was keeping something from him.

"She drowned?" Ash asked.

"No," Delia said, shaking her head. "Her neck was crushed in when they found her. She was strangled to death and then tossed into the river."

Ash sat quietly with Delia for hours, letting her cry.

"Ash…"

Ash snapped his head around. He was out in an open field; the azure sky spread for miles around him as the wind blew the blades of grass around his feet.

"Ash…"

"Who's there?" The voice seemed to come from every direction.

"Your mother…"

"Mom?" Ash looked up and around, but saw no one.

"Ash…"

A spirit appeared before him. The ghost's hair was long and flowing in waves. Her eyes were crystal blue, but they weren't eyes. They were hollow ovals that radiated pain.

"Y-you're not Mom!" Ash yelped.

"Ash, my son," the spirit whispered. "I am Evelyn…your true mother…"

Ash thought he stopped breathing for a moment. "Evelyn…" he whispered. "That explains it! That's why mom…I mean, Delia never told me that much about you! You…you're my…my real…moth…"

Ash bolted upright in his bed, gasping for breath. His hand was at his chest as if to calm his pounding heart.

Heedless of the late hour, he ran out in the hall and pounded on Delia's door.

"I wasn't going to tell you until your 18th birthday," Delia said, pouring a cup of coffee for herself.

Ash looked at his cup of tea. "For 8 years…you lied to me?"

"5. Evelyn brought you here when you were 3 years old." Delia sat down opposite to Ash.

"But…why? Why would you lie to me for 5 years?"

"I wanted to protect you. How would our relationship have been if I told you that your mother brought you here? I was planning to tell you when you were fully an adult and the information wouldn't affect you as much as it does now."

"Our relationship would've been fine," Ash countered stubbornly. "Why would I feel any connection to someone who dumped me at her best friend's house and ran?"

"Ash." Delia took her son's hand. "You know that isn't the truth. She wanted to protect you from her husband."

"Then why'd she marry him?" Ash demanded angrily.

"She was young and in love. Love makes people act foolish."

"So I'm just the finishing of her own foolishness?" Ash said sharply.

"Ash, Evelyn loved you very much. She was doing what she thought was best for you. Yes, she was foolish. But she was happy with you and it killed her inside to give you up. She knew that it would be better to give you to me instead of an orphanage. She wanted you to know the love of a family from an early stage." She got up from her chair and hugged her son. "You understand, don't you, Ash?"

"I think so," he choked out. "But…"

"Sh, no buts," Delia commanded gently. "It's late, and you must have your sleep. How Evelyn would frown if she saw that I let you stay up!"

Ash smiled a little at this bit of mirth and got up from the couch. Though he was too old for it, he took Delia's hand and snuggled next to her as she walked him down the hallway.

"Good-night, Mom," he said, tucked under the covers and the light flicked off.

Delia's hand faltered as she reached for the doorknob. After a moment of silence she responded. "Good-night, son."

Shutting the door behind her, Delia smiled and thanked Evelyn for the blessing that had become hers.

Do you like? I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been busy with my other stories.

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