Scene 4: Sickness
School was over and as Kari packed away her supplies inside her backpack, through the window, she could see Eevee sitting at the school gates. Just as every other day after school, Eevee was waiting for Kari to walk home together. Once outside, Kari made a short sprint to her friend. All of the other kids were stopping to either pet Eevee or give him a treat- Eevee loved getting all of the attention from the kids. Kari reached the edge of the school yard, "Eevee! Are you ready to go home?" Eevee left the crowd to meet her. He jumped on her shoulder and nudged her cheek in greeting. After saying goodbye to the other kids, Kari and Eevee made their way home. They walked together, making their training plans for the evening. Soon, their house came in sight, "I'll race you to door!" And they were off! Eevee, as always, would quickly run a few paces ahead, stop and wait, and then continue. They finally reached the door, "No fair!" Kari panted as she stopped for a breath, "You're way fast 'cause you're a Poke'mon!" Eevee laughed. She opened the door and led the way in. Something was out of place- it was much too quiet than was normal. Eevee's ears pricked upwards. He ran to the kitchen and called for Kari to follow, "What is it Eevee?" She followed just behind him. Just as she turned the corner, she noticed a bright green apple. Curious, Kari picked it up- why was there an apple on the floor? She continued into the kitchen, and there, she and Eevee found Celeste collapsed onto the kitchen floor amongst a pile of groceries. Kari was halted for a moment, in shock, "Mommy..? Mommy!" Kari ran to her side, "Mommy! Wake up! What's the matter?" She was getting no response. Kari remembered learning about what to do in emergency situations like this- she ran to the house phone and called the police. She sat next to her mother's unconscious body, holding her hand, while they waited for Officer Jenny and her team to arrive.
Jenny took Kari and Eevee to the hospital, her mother in an ambulance. While in the hospital, Officer Jenny phoned for her father at the Gym. Celeste was rushed inside upon arrival, while Kari was forced to wait in the lobby. Soon, her father arrived. He was paler than she had ever seen him before. He rushed over to her side and kissed her tear-stricken cheeks, "Don't worry. Daddy's here now, and I'll make sure everything is taken care of." He gave her a big hug, "Wait here while Daddy takes care of everything." And he was gone. Kari sat silently, curled up in a lobby chair with Eevee on her lap. Every now-and-then Giovanni would stroll into view, and every time he did, he was speaking with a new person. Back and forth from doctor to doctor and nurse to nurse, Giovanni did all he could to get to the bottom of the situation. By the end of the night, Celeste was in the all-clear, transferred to a quiet room, and Kari was finally allowed to see her. She sat at her mother's side whilst she slept. The next morning, Giovanni tried to persuade her to leave for school, but she absolutely refused. Kari, Eevee and Giovanni sat with the sleeping Celeste for three days straight until she finally opened her eyes. It was the middle of the day, Kari was curled up by her arm, asleep. She looked up, unsurprised to see Giovanni standing over her. She gave him a weak smile, "I'm sorry." Giovanni shook his head. He caressed her cheek with his hand, "I'm just happy you woke up." Celeste kissed his hand, "Me too." She turned to watch Kari sleeping at her side, "How is she?" Giovanni didn't take her eyes off of his wife, "...She was the one who found you." Celeste was crying now. They sat in silence as the minutes passed. She looked at his face, "How long?" Giovanni bent over and placed his forehead against hers, "It doesn't matter. You're here now, and that's all that matters." A quiet rustling signaled that Kari was awake. She opened her eyes to find her mother finally awake. Kari immediately began to cry, "Mommy! You're awake! You're awake!" She began to cry into her chest. Celeste attempted to keep her calm, "It's alright, sweetie, Mommy's fine." She gave Kari a kiss on the forehead and continued to hug her, all the while trying to hide her silent tears.
Celeste remained stable for the next few days. It was beginning to look like she was going to make a full recovery and Kari began to think they would be heading home any day now. A week passed. Kari and Giovanni were sleeping, both on either side of the bed's edges. Celeste looked around at the two of them- they were both sleeping so soundly. Eevee opened his eyes. He could sense a change in Celeste- he couldn't leave her alone, not now. Eevee climbed onto her chest and sat there. Celeste smiled and she slowly stroked his fur- something in his eyes was calming her. She was crying again, "You know, everything changed the night you came into our lives." Eevee listened intently, "Kari's been so much happier since she's met you. And I thank you for it." She looked directly into Eevee's eyes, "Promise me, won't you? Promise me that you will stay by her side." She swallowed, "Promise me that you will do all you can to keep her safe and happy." They sat in silence for a few moments. Eevee stood up and curled himself up on her pillow. Celeste continued to stroke his fur, "Thank you."
The sun had begun to rise. The light slipped through the blinds of the window, through the room, and onto the bed. As the rays hit Kari's face, she woke up. The room was quiet. She tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes. Kari looked up into her mother's face. She couldn't say why, but she knew something was wrong. She repositioned herself closer to her mother. Eevee opened his eyes and looked at her. When Kari and Eevee locked eyes, she felt something hurt. She couldn't help the tears from falling, "...Daddy..?" Giovanni opened his eyes. As soon as he saw Kari crying, he looked at his wife's face. He made the connection in an instant. In one motion, he scooped both Kari and Eevee into his arms and carried them outside of the bedroom. Once outside, he called to the staff, "Nurse! Nurse, please!" He turned away so that Kari wouldn't have to see as a group of nurses came rushing past.
Celeste had passed away in the night. In a week's time, Kari and Giovanni were standing in a graveyard on the outskirts of Pallet Town, surrounded by family and friends. After this day, the day they had to say their goodbyes, both Kari and Giovanni would never be the same.