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There were three things in life that Norman loved more than anything else. There was Pokemon Battling, of course, he'd turned it into his career, after all. There was his wife, Caroline, who he'd never once stopped loving in all the years they'd been together. And, above everything else, there was his daughter, May. She was his pride and joy, he'd do anything for her.
Which is why it hurt so much that he'd failed her. Her and Caroline both. His career as a Gym Leader was very successful, but in the process he'd missed more and more of May's life. He hadn't even realized just how much she'd grown up until she showed up at his gym one day with a Pokemon of her very own and a determined look in her eyes. Maybe that's why he'd insisted she obtain four Gym Badges before facing him, so he could pretend for a little longer that there was still time left before she grew up completely, that he hadn't missed all of it.
Then, the day came. She returned with four Badges in hand. Her Pokemon team had grown and evolved and her look of determination was even fiercer. It was a hard fought battle but, ultimately, she defeated him. He'd never been prouder but at the same time he felt sad. He couldn't deny it anymore, she'd grown up and he hadn't been there to see it.
And she went on to do amazing things. Becoming Champion, quelling Legendary Pokemon, even traveling into space. And he hadn't been there to see any of it. He had to learn about it secondhand, from news broadcasts and people who had been there. And each time he was more than just proud, he was amazed, astounded. His little girl, who he'd always known was capable of anything she put her mind too, had accomplished far greater things than he ever could have imagined. But more than anything he felt guilt, because he should have been there. To uplift her, to cheer her on, to tell her just how proud he really was.
And then there was Caroline. His wife who he'd vowed to love until the very end. She acted understanding, whenever he had to stay at work overnight. When something urgent came up that forced them to cancel plans. But he knew it frustrated her. And he was worried that she was falling out of love with him.
And who could blame her? After all, how can you love someone who's never there? Who made promises that he couldn't keep? It wouldn't be fair of him to expect her to still love him. Not when he wasn't there to give her a reason to. Not when he'd failed her.
He'd made so many mistakes, as a father and as a husband, and he feared that it was too late to fix them.