Prelude
@volcaniique
You’d made your departure quiet and methodical.
A proper exercise in caution and a heavy-hearted, quiet goodbye, you left everything neat. Remaining paperwork finished and turned in, laptop purged of all personal affects., you don’t have much you needed to pack.
Your entire collection of Pokédolls were donated to a children’s hospital, save for a couple Courtney and Maxie had given to you. The only one not donated, and not coming with you, is an expensive collector’s edition ‘shiny’ Vulpix you’d been saving as a gift for Courtney-- since this is going to likely be the last time you see her for a while, you leave it on the bed with a pretty pink bow around its neck and note atop your uniform. A couple photos of you and her, as well as one with you, her and Maxie sits upon the nightstand.
You made copies of them, but she deserves to keep the originals.
The note is melancholic and the writing is shaky, reading, “Dear Courtney... Oh goodness, it’s difficult to say this, especially when I haven’t the gall to say it to your face! I guess I’ll begin with saying I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being such a fucking coward, for just running away and leaving you with Magma’s smoldering remnants. My only excuse is that... There is no Magma without Maxie. I’ve thought this over for days, weeks... Months.
I just can’t do it anymore, Courtney, and I’m so sorry.
By the time you read this, I likely won’t be in Hoenn, but I’ll send a letter back once I find somewhere to live... It probably won’t be for a while, but I won’t forget to do it. Just stay strong, okay? You’re stronger than I am, and, in my last scraps of authority, I name you Chief Administrator in my formal resignation. I know you’ll do better than I did. I left a bunch of coupons for Pokéblocks and puffs in the envelope. I know I’ll never be able to make this up to you, but, Courtney, just know that I love you. I love you like you’re a part of my own family, and I hope you go nowhere but up in the world. I know our paths will cross again at some point, and maybe then I’ll be a bigger man than I am now.
- Love, Tabitha”
