Promise

"Champion May! You're back!"

"We're so glad you're here! We've missed you!"

"Are you up for a battle?"

"Where were you? Taking a break from training, perhaps?"

Norman shoos away the crowds of people outside the window, narrowing his eyes before yanking the curtains shut. Dozens upon dozens of 'fans' of May eagerly await to visit the girl upon her 'return.' However, May herself doesn't want this. During the past few hours, people poked at the window, pleaded for  their champion, and even asked for autographs. Some people brought balloons and gifts. Some people brought letters. May just wants peace.

"I'm sorry, May," Norman sighs, leaning over his knees. "I know they're being..."

"It's okay, Dad," May says softly. She does not say anything else but hopes he catches the weariness in her tone.

"You've got to take your medicine, you know, dear," Caroline rests a hand upon May's shoulder and gives it a squeeze. "It'll help you feel better."

May fights the urge to protest. It will make her 'feel better'? No one has dared to even ask where she was or what happened to her at all. No one knows what she went through. No one knows how they hurt her, how he hurt her. All they know is that something traumatizing happened to her, but they don't know what. All they know is that some teenage boy found her bloodied in the woods and brought her back. Yet, they place their faith in a little pill to make her 'feel better'? Will this little pill heal all of her scars, the ones seen and unseen?

It stings. Do they not care, May thinks to herself, or are they too afraid of what they'll hear? It's been three days. Yet somehow this stupid pill will make everything better? What makes them think I need it, anyway?

It doesn't seem like they care about me that much.

"Okay," May whispers.

Her mom turns to leave the room and fetch a nurse, but before doing so, May stops her.

"Mom?" May asks. Her voice is low and her mind is boiling.

"What is it, dear?" Caroline smiles.

"Can you at least get me my Pokémon?"

***

It's day four and the pill hasn't helped. May sits, silently fiddling with her hospital gown and tracing the faint rust stains upon her wrists. How hasn't anyone wondered? she thinks to herself. She isn't seeking pity. She seeks something deeper than the 'our champion is back!' celebrations.

She misses her Pokémon team. Caroline has gone home for the day and May hopes for her mother's return to result in the reunion with Juno and the rest of her Pokémon team. Her bond with the beloved creatures was quite special; the Pokémon knew how to communicate with their trainer without words, something people neglected to do. May smiles at the thought of seeing her sweet Blaziken Juno, her loyal Latias, her stoic Aggron Rono.

Her mind goes wild at the thought of what she has missed in her absence. Really, how much did everything change? What did her Pokémon think? She can only imagine how lonely and abandoned they have felt. May winces at this thought. She had disappeared without warning, without trace.

"I hope they know I didn't leave them on purpose," she sighs aloud.

Flopping back onto the bed with a groan, May succumbs to boredom. Her stay in this place has reaped nothing. Day after idle day has trudged along, and May just longs to go home.
She fiddles with a tangled lock of hair.