The Wishing Lake
Chapter 21
...
Dawn took a deep breath and faced the audience in front of her. She calmed herself down. She was doing it for Ash. He wanted her to sing, to pursue her goal, to follow her passion.
After having that weird dream, she was sure about what she wanted in life. She wanted to be as close to Ash as physically possible and the only way was,"Music."
Daniel and Delia were the ones who took the responsibility of Dawn. They were the one who made her join the competition. She was happy they were concerned about her but sad at the same time. She missed him, she missed him more than anyone knew but couldn't accept the fact that he was dead. She felt like Ash was messing with her and would emerge from shadows, exclaiming,"See, you're so dependent on me! Crying in my absence!"
"Start when you feel ready," the anchor told her and she nodded. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.
Somewhere in the audience...
"Daisey! See, she is the winner of the previous two years singing competition!" Misty clasped her hand in awe, staring at the blunette on the stage. Taking seat, Daisey rolled her eyes,"Sit down Misty! You're making me and Ritchie embarrassed!''
The mentioned man sat down, staring at the girl on the stage. A cascade of feelings originated in his stomach and he let out a small breath, inaudible to any human. He felt he had seen her before but couldn't pinpoint how. The harder he tried to remember, the more distant the memory became. Seeing his pained expression, Misty placed a hand on his shoulder,"Are you okay Ritchie? Should we take you home?"
Ritchie shook his head,"No. I am just excited. Anyways, concentrate on your performance, don't worry about me , okay?" Misty gave him an unsure look. Daisey and Ritchie smiled at her to ease her nervousness.
Ritchie's body stiffened on hearing the voice of the singer. His stomach twisted into knots and he knew something was wrong with her.
Dawn slowly opened her eyes and gave a small smile to the audience, flashing a smile to Delia and Daniel who were sitting on the fifth row. She softly said,"In memory of my late husband, Doctor Ash Red Ketchum."
Loving him is like driving a new Maserati
Down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind
Passionate as sin
Ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind
Once you're already flying
Through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn
So bright just before they lose it all
Ritchie didn't look up, he wasn't sure what was going on. It was like a current of swift emotions, washing his heart yet leaving no clue. He wasn't ready, he wasn't ready to face someone whom he had never met, or so he believed. Was it possible that this girl was a clue to his past? A past he had left behind and forgotten?
Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know
Somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red
The girl seemed to be in pain, she was hurting inside, Ritchie knew it. But why? Why did he care!?
Touching him was like realizing all
You ever wanted
Was right there in front of you
Memorizing him was as easy as knowing
All the words to your old favourite song
Fighting with him was like
Trying to solve a crossword and realizing
There's no right answer
Regretting him was like wishing you never
Found out that love could be that strong
Dawn wiped away a tear which escaped her eyes. His smile, his jealous face, his sulky expression all flashed in front of her eyes. For once, she thought that she saw him in the audience, listening to her but when searched for that face again, it was gone. She was turning crazy, or something like that she believed.
Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know
Somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Oh, red
Burning red
Remembering him comes in flashbacks
And echoes
Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head
In burning red
Burning, it was red
More than three months had passed since she lost him but his last hug was still fresh in her mind. The way he accepted her even after knowing she was probably an orphan, the way he teased her, the warmth of his touch, the need of his kiss, the passion of his love, she missed every bit of him.
Oh, losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know
Somebody you never met
'Cause loving him was red
Yeah, yeah, red
We're burning red
And that's why he's spinning
Around in my head
Comes back to me, burning red
Yeah, yeah
She saw Daniel watching her with teary eyes. She knew the song was not for the competition, it was for Ash. She was here because he wanted, he wished for it.
His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Once Dawn finished, the entire auditorium was engulfed in silence. Not even a sound was made by anyone. Dawn shook her head in shame, thinking she had ruined her performance by allowing the emotions to reach her. Her eyes snapped open when she saw Delia giving him a standing ovation, followed by Daniel. One by one everyone rose up, clapping and cheering for her.
Once she was back to where Daniel and Delia was, Delia engulfed her in a hug, kissing her forehead,"I knew you would do great."
...
"The last song was really heart touching, right? Well nothing less is expected from two times winner of this show! Well, we have to see whether her record sits unbroken or someone else grabs it! After the wonderful performance by Dawn Ketchum, we welcome Misty Waterflower on the stage!" The announcer enthusiastically said.
Misty stood and took a deep breath. Ritchie gave her a thumbs up,"All the best." She smiled,"Yeah!"
Grabbing the microphone softly, Misty gulped. She knew she would get the stage phobia as soon as she put a step on it but there was no turning back now, she will do it.
I feel delirious
Come let's get out of here
We're so anonymous but
It's all coming clear
We're heading for the sky
And we'll get lost in it cause
All I want, all I want
All I want is everything
Misty raised her hand high in the air, as if trying to catch the sky. She was surely enjoying, knowing she was going at a nice rate.
And I will pose if I wanna
And I will vogue like Madonna
I might not dance like MJ RIP
But I will give the best of me
All I want is everything
Yes everything
Too much is not enough
I'm sick of settling for in between
And I'm not giving up
As long as it feels right
At least we know that we're alive
All I want is everything
Yes everything, yeah
Whoa oh
When was the last time that she enjoyed so much? All she needed was a little push from someone. That someone was the one whom they saved while they were in Sinnoh. And right now, the boy was like a pleasant spring break in her boring monotonous life.
We don't ever stop
Let's watch the sun come up
We'll sleep when we're dead cause
Halfway kinda sucks
We're heading for the sky
And will get lost in it cause
All I want, all I want
All I want is everything
And I will pose if I wanna
And I will vogue like Madonna
I might not dance like MJ RIP
But I will give the best of me
All I want is everything,
Yes everything, too much is not enough
I'm sick of settling for in between
And I'm not giving up
As long as it feels right
At least we know that we're alive
All I want is everything
Yes everything, yeah
Whoa oh
She smiled widely on seeing Daisey smiling at her. She smiled even wider when she saw the happy faces of the audience.
Hold on to me
And I'll hold on to you
Don't over think
What have we got to lose
It's me and you,
Me and you no matter what
Whoa oh ah oh whoa oh oh whoa
We're heading for the sky
And we'll get lost in it cause
All I want, all I want
All I want is everything
And I will pose if I wanna
And I will vogue like Madonna
I might not dance like MJ RIP
But I will give the best of me
All I want is everything
Yes everything, too much is not enough
I'm sick of settling for in between
And I'm not giving up
As long as it feels right
At least we know that we're alive
All I want is everything,
Yes everything, yeah
Whoa oh
Misty quickly ran down the stairs, stage fright finally catching up to her. Her smile faded on seeing Ritchie clutching his head tightly.
"No Daisey, congratulate me later. Right now we need to go back home, Ritchie seems so tired!"
Dawn turned around toward the exit to catch a glimpse of raven haired boy leaving the room. 'Could it be?' She murmured and ran toward the exit, fingers crossed. Daniel was confused but giving Delia a nod, they got up to search for her.
Dawn broke into jog and finally ran to catch up to them. Seeing the trio standing beside a car, she ran faster and tightly gripped the boy's hand, making him to turn around.
Her face soon resembled a flower, smiling unknowingly. She softly whispered,"Ash!" Then with a muffled laugh and happiness, "ASH!"
The boy was looking at her in amazement. Misty was confused and so was Daisey who were giving them weird looks.
But Dawn couldn't care less. She forced back the tears that were threatening to fall and raised her right hand to cup the boy's cheek. She finally found him! After three months!
However, the boy held her hand midair and a little rudely said,"You're mistaken Miss. I am not Ash, I am Ritchie." Misty unhooked Dawn's grip from his arm and pulled Ritchie inside the car. Turning to see the mute figure of Dawn, she rudely whispered,"Get away. He said he didn't know you,stop being so dramatic." With that being said, the car was gone, leaving a shattered Dawn behind.
"He doesn't remember me?"
...
"I am serious Mom! I saw Ash there," Dawn said again. Delia held back her tears and Samantha trying to keep her calm. Paul quietly said,"See Dawn, we know you're in pain, but stop saying all these. He will not come back."
Dawn ignored them and headed toward the door, saying,"I will be back soon!"
She wiped away her tears and bit her lip. She was angry, angry because no one trusted her. She was hurt, because now she knew her love was alive. She was clueless because she didn't knew how to bring him back.
She quickly got into a taxi and told where she wanted to go. She was going to bring him back.
...
Serena was sitting in her classroom quietly, sometime exchanging a word or two with her classmates. She was a little happy that she was staying with Dawn more often than before. She wasn't sure why she hated her before. But now, she wasn't sure why she couldn't see her hurt. She cried sometimes, thinking how much pain she caused her sister.
Her ride to the bus stop was the same as any other day. However, she found Paul waiting for her, which occurred almost once a week.
They began walking back to the Ketchum's residence, silently.
"Are you okay?" Paul asked.
"Yeah."
"You don't look so."
"Why are you even bothered?''
"Serena, you can talk to me. Something is killing you from inside," he said, hand in his pants pocket.
"Life is so mysterious, right? One day you can see the sun and the other day, your existence is questioned," she said while looking at the sky.
"You've been so different since you came back to Sinnoh,"Paul said and Serena stiffened,"Did you meet Ash there?"
She quickly said,"A-Are you i-insane! O-of course NOT! Are you blaming me for his disappearance?"
Paul coolly said,"Chill. I didn't mean it, don't sweat it." Serena put a hand on her throbbing chest and inhaled. Paul, however raised an eyebrow at her actions.
...
Hearing the doorbell ring, Daisey groaned. She groggily got up and opened the door.
Dawn smiled a little and sweetly said,"Hey."
"You're Dawn right? You were there in the concert last night," Daisey smiled and welcomed her in.
"Competition," Dawn corrected her.
Misty poked her head from adjoining kitchen,"Who is there? Wait, I know you!"
Once Misty was back in the room, Daisey signalled Dawn to sit.
"Sorry for that. It is just that Ritchie looks a lot like someone very close to me. So I thought he was him. I didn't mean to do something inappropriate," Dawn slowly said.
Misty smiled,"Don't worry, but really, you came all the way just for apologizing?"
Dawn shook her head lightly,"I am helpless. My husband died a few months back and now, I don't know what to do. I just want to ask, can you help me, in any manner?"
Daisey quickly said,"But you're a singer! You can start a school even. We would have helped you but we don't have any suitable job for you right now." Dawn's face fell and Misty, noticing it, quickly said,"You can teach me how to sing. I mean, you're pretty good!"
Dawn was about to say something when Daisey cut her off,"Wait, you can also help us in our everyday work. We will pay for that too. Our work keeps us busy, so we're unable to run the house properly."
Misty hissed,"Daisey! She is an artist. We can't allow her to do that!''
Dawn thought for a while,"I accept the work as your maid. I am really without much choice."
Misty sweetly smiled,"no Dawn, it is fine."
Dawn cut her,"Don't worry, I can cook, clean, wash, I can do anything, just don't make me leave. I will happily do the job of your maidservant."
"Well then, join us from tomorrow!"
...
*Author escapes before anyone can throw stones at her*