Pokémon Something is Up Chapter 2 The Abuse
May woke up the next morning. As she groggily made her way to the bathroom, she hoped for a moment of solitude to collect her thoughts. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, her heart sank. Bruises and other marks adorned her delicate skin, painful reminders of the abusive relationship she found herself trapped in, as she was afraid of what would happen if she left him and what he would do to her family and friends. The sight of a handprint on her cheek, a cruel reminder of Drew's anger, brought tears streaming down her face.
In an attempt to hide her pain, and hide the abuse from Ash and Delia, May reached for her makeup bag, desperately hoping to cover the physical evidence of her suffering. She carefully applied layer after layer, hoping to conceal the marks from the world and her friends. But no matter how skillfully applied layer after layer, it couldn't hide the deep emotional scars that had been etched into her soul. It also covered up most of her bruises and marks scattered throughout her body, but it didn't cover up all of them, as her cheek and she gingerly touched the mark, still stinging, feeling the sting as it just happened. A wave of sadness washed over her.
With trembling hands, May reached for antiseptic and cotton swabs, her reflection watching her every move. As she began to clean her cheek, a sharp pain seared through her cheek, causing her to flinch involuntarily. Tears welled up in her eyes, mirroring the pain that had become an unwelcome companion.
As May emerged from the bathroom, her heart heavy with sorrow, Drew must have heard her crying in the bathroom and could see the tears that ran down her cheek. "You're so weak and pathetic," He spat at her.
Drew's words cut through the silence, piercing her fragile spirit. His cruel taunts echoed in her mind, tearing down what little self-worth she had left, as he would constantly hurl insults, mostly about her appearance, and call her names. With each word, he wounded her further, making her feel smaller and weaker, After that, May was left to sulk on her own, as Drew then got ready, and both of them went downstairs, where they saw Ash and Delia and the dining table, eating breakfast that Delia had made. They all bid each other good morning, as May and Drew both made themselves a plate, with May's plate stacked high. She felt a mix of anxiety and fear, as Drew sat by her.
Before she could dig in, though, Ashe became concerned, as he couldn't help but notice the faint bruises on her arm; he knew he saw some earlier, and now the redness on her cheek, which he definitely didn't see last night, His heart sank, as he had a nagging feeling that he knew what was going on. "May, what happened to your cheek? And those bruises?" Ash asked gently.
May's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darting nervously towards Drew. Before May could respond, Drew shot her a menacing glare, causing her to flinch. May quickly tried to come up with an excuse, in order to avoid Drew's wrath, her voice trembling. "Oh, it's nothing, Ash; I, uh, accidentally bumped into the door last night. Klutziness at its finest, you know?"
Ash's burrow furrowed, not entirely convinced. He had known May for a long time, as she was rarely clumsy enough to injure herself like that. He didn't want to push her further, but he needed answers to know what was really going on. Delia, noticed the tension in the air and decided to step in, even though she also figured something else was going on, but like Ash, she didn't want to press any further. "Ash, dear, let's not dwell on the past. Right May?"
May forced a smile, grateful for Delia's intervention. "Yes, Mrs. Ketchum, you're absolutely right. Let's focus on the present and enjoy the meal together." Even though she wanted to tell both of them what was really going on, But she was fearful of how Drew responded; he had threatened that if she told anyone about what was going on, that he would hurt Max and Ash, and it made her feel sick to her stomach.
Ash sighed inwardly, feeling frustrated and helpless. He wanted to protect May, but he also knew that he had to respect her choices and give her the space she needed. He made a silent promise to himself to be there for her whenever she was ready to open up. May's plate which was full of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and other breakfast foods. Before she dug in, Drew, who would belittle her May for appetite, seized the opportunity to mock his girlfriend again. "Wow, May, I didn't know you were auditioning for a buffet commercial. Can you please try and control yourself?"
The room fell silent as May's smile faded, replaced by tears welling up in her eyes. The cruel words pierced through her heart, reminding her all of the times Drew had made her feel unworthy and small. But Ash, who cared for May deeply, couldn't bear to see her in pain. Anger boiled within him as he stood up from the table, his voice trembling with determination. "That's enough, Drew! You have no right to hurt her like that. May can eat as much as she wants without facing your judgment. If you can't see her worth,"
Drew grumbled angrily under his breath. May looked up, her eyes filled with both surprise and gratitude. It was the first time anyone had stood up for her against Drew's hurtful words. She wiped away her tears, but before she could say anything else, Drew shot her another glare. Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. After that, they eat breakfast, and while making small talk, May eats at a slower pace and less than she normally does, afraid of getting ridiculed by Drew.
A little while later, Ash took May and Drew to a local dinner for lunch. They took their seats, with May sitting beside Drew. Ash though could see that May seemed distant and reserved, usually known for her cheerful demeanor. Her usually radiant smile had faded, replaced by a faint sense of unease. Ash noticed the change in her behavior and became concerned. Meanwhile, Drew, had excused himself to go to the bathroom. Ash saw this as an opportunity to address his suspicions. He leans closer to May and asks softly, "Is everything alright, May?" He asked, still worried about earlier.
May's gaze dropped to her plate of burger and fries, as she twirled a strand of her hair nervously. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to confide in Ash. However, the fear of Drew's reaction held her back, and what he would do to her brother or Ash, She knew that speaking out could lead to dire consequences.
"I'm fine, Ash," May replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ash could sense that there was more to May's response than she let on. He wanted to help her, and protect her from any harm. But he also understood the importance of respecting her boundaries, but he also wanted to help her so badly and get her to confess to what was really going on. With Drew's return imminent, he decided to drop the subject reluctantly for right now.
As Drew returned to the table, Ash shifted his focus, engaging in a light-hearted conversation to distract from the tension. He wanted May to know that he was there for her, even if she wasn't ready to talk. Throughout the meal, Ash kept a watchful eye, noticing her discomfort and the way she would flinch when Drew made any sudden movements. His concern grew, but he knew that pushing her to reveal her troubles in front of Drew might only worsen the situation, even though he wanted to do so badly.
After finishing the meal, they began making their way back to Ash's and Delia's house. As they walked, Ash glanced at May, showing his determination to help her grow stronger and help her with Drew. He made a silent promise to himself that he would find a way to support her and eventually save her, even if it meant confronting Drew directly. May, still unburdened by the weight of her secret, wanting to tell Ash so badly on what was going on, walked alongside Ash and Drew, appreciating his silent support. She knew that she had a really good friend, someone who cared deeply for her and her well-being. And although she wasn't ready to open up yet, she found solace in the fact that Ash was there, patiently waiting for her to find the courage to speak the truth.
Later that night, as Drew and May were busy getting ready for bed, Ash decided to get advice from his mom. He had always found solace in her warm embrace and wise advice. Delia, who noticed May's changed behavior and, from what happened earlier, concerned her too, listened attentively as Ash poured out his concerns about May and Drew. "Mom, I've been observing May, for a while now, and I can't help but feel that something is not right with her." Ash expressed with worry: "She seems nervous and anxious whenever Drew is around, and with what happened earlier, I'm afraid he might be abusing her."
Delia's eyes widened with concern, mirroring her son's worry. She had grown very fond of May and had always seen her as a part of the extended family. Delia had also noticed the uneasiness May displayed in Drew's presence. "Ash, my dear, I have noticed May's behavior too," Delia replied, her voice gentle yet resolute. "I am afraid we share the same suspicion. It's crucial that we support May and make her feel safe enough to talk about her feelings."
Ash nodded, grateful for his mother's understanding and guidance. "But Mom, what can I do to help her? I don't want to make things worse or push him away," He asked, desperately seeking a way to support his friend.
Delia placed a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder, her eyes brimming with love and concern. "Ash, the first step is to assure May that we are there for her, no matter what. We need to create a safe and non-judgmental space for her to open up. Let her know that her well-being is our top priority."
The young trainer listened intently, absorbing his mother's words like a sponge. "Okay, mom. I will talk to May and let her know that she can trust us. I won't let her face this alone," Ash promised, his determination shining through.
Delia smiled proudly, her heart swelling with love for her son. "That's my brave boy. Remember, Ash, sometimes all we need is someone to listen to us without judgment. Be patient and understanding. Your support might be just what May needs to find her voice."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Ash left his mother's side, ready to confront the difficult situation. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to stand by his best his friend. May deserved to be heard and protected, and with that, Ash went to bed on the couch.
Later on that night, May woke up in the middle of the night feeling parched. She quietly tiptoed down the stairs and made her way into the kitchen, so she wouldn't wake Ash up. She poured herself a glass of water to quench her thirst. Unbeknownst to her, Drew was plagued by jealousy, as he was jealous of how much time Ash and she were spending together, and to be honest, he didn't really like for her to hang out with any guy. He couldn't bear the thought of May spending time with Ash. As May reached for a glass, Drew suddenly stormed into the kitchen, his face red with anger.
"You've been cheating on me with Ash, haven't you?" Drew accused her, his voice filled with fury. Without any warning, he grabbed May's wrist forcefully, causing her to wince in pain. Terrified, May tried to fight back, but she couldn't match Drew' strength.
In the midst of their struggle, May accidentally dropped the glass of water, shattering it into a thousand tiny little pieces. The noise echoed through the house, rousing Ash from his slumber. He quickly jumped off out the couch, his heart pounding with concern.
"What's going on here?" Ash asked, his voice laced with worry. Seeing May's teary eyes and Drew's menacing grip on her arm, he knew something was terribly wrong. However, May, fearing Drew's reaction, decided to lie again, even though she really wanted to tell the truth. "It's nothing, Ash," May stammered, her voice trembling. "I just tripped and broke a glass. That's it."
Ash's eyes searched May's face, filled with a mixture of confusion and concern. He could see the fear in her eyes, but he respected her decision not to disclose the truth. Still, deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that more was going on. Reluctantly, Ash turned his gaze towards Drew and asked, "Is that true? Did she just trip?" Like Drew would tell the truth anyway, but it was worth a shot.
"Yeah, she just tripped." He replied.
Ash could sense there was more to the story, but he didn't want to push any further, especially if May's wasn't ready to share. He knew he needed to respect her boundaries, even if it meant leaving her in harm's way, and he couldn't force it out of her either. Drew went back to bed, and May held her wrist, clutching in pain. She then got the broom out and was about to clean up the shards of glass, but Ash stopped and told her to go to bed. May was about to argue, but she knew there was no point in arguing, so she went back to bed, leaving Ash to his own thoughts about May and how worried and concerned he was for her.