Chapter Text
The neighbors are having a preemptive pot legalization party again. I can't stand the smell. Probably would have tried weed a long time ago if I could.
My keys are lost somewhere in the black hole that is my purse. I sigh. It's been a long day of work at the lab. My feet hurt like hell. I take everything out: wallet, headphones, book... There they are. I force the lock. It's always been a hassle to get this door open.
The smell of weed disappears as I enter my apartment and is replaced with a different scent. I couldn't tell you what it is. I don't even want to know. My cat Eevee runs to greet me. I smile and scratch her ears. She rubs against my leg as I move to the kitchen counter to set down my purse. I take off my engagement ring. My fingers are swollen from sweating inside the gloves at work. They reek of latex.
I wash my hands, trying to ignore the disastrous state my kitchen is in. When was the last time C---- or I did dishes? Or had anything resembling a cleanly living space?
I sigh and plop myself onto the couch. The living room is just as bad as the kitchen. Junk everywhere. Boxes filled with our belongings are piled high in the hallway. Despite all that's been packed, I feel like we haven't made a dent in this place. How did we fit so much stuff in this little apartment?
Eevee jumps on the couch and curls up next to me. I pet her head and stare at the ceiling. In a few days we'll be able to start moving things into our new house. And a week after that I'll be in Belgium, filming a documentary. I should be elated, but despite the good things and the pills my depression has dipped. I barely eat. Can't afford food, not that I would have the motivation to cook it if we could. I suppose the stress of it all is getting to me.
I take ten minutes to find the energy to stand. I move into the office. I take an empty box and start filling it. There's no organization. I just want it all put away. Between my desk and a heavy set of wooden drawers I find my 3DS case. I open it to make sure it's in there. It is, along with no less than a dozen Pokemon games. There isn't enough slots in the case to hold them all, but I've made it work. I check which game is in the console. Y Version. Damn, what a good one. I think about Alistair's Odyssey, the story I based off of my run. Seriously need to get back to work on that at some point.
I get nostalgic. I abandon my work and take my 3DS into our bedroom. I flip through the games. It's been a while since I've started one anew. But I don't want to delete any of these save files. Then I remember... Nintendo released Red, Blue, and Yellow in the eShop back in February. I check my bank account on my phone. Funds are low (as usual), but I could swing ten dollars. Call it a mental health purchase.
Eevee is stretched out on the bed next to me. Precious thing, she always has to be in the same room as me. I accidently startle her as I make a quick trip to the kitchen to retrieve my wallet. It feels strange typing credit card information into what is basically the descendant of my GameBoy Color, but I've done it. I wait for the game to install... It's ready.
Grabbing a blanket, I settle myself in. I feel like I'm six years old again as I press start. I grin with glee as I watch Pikachu run towards me...
"...
"...
"Oh... Oh? My, my, my. Look who it is. Goodness, how long- let's see... Seventeen years? You've grown so much. What happened to your glasses? Where have you been? What have you been doing?
"Could you please... Please tell me?
"I've missed you.
"...
"I've been alone all this time."