Ash Ketchum stared at the ceiling, his eyes glistening with silent tears. The familiar dampness beneath him brought a heavy feeling of shame, one he’d carried for as long as he could remember. Outside, crickets chirped in the cool night air, oblivious to his worries. Somewhere down the hall, the gentle footsteps of his mother echoed softly.
Delia Ketchum[/@ch_2], kind-faced but weary, stands at the stove, glancing anxiously at the hallway.]
"Ash, breakfast is ready! Come eat before it gets cold," she called, masking her concern with a warm smile. Ash shuffled in, head down, his hands fidgeting with his shirt. Delia watched him with a mix of love and frustration. "Did you have another accident last night?" Her tone was gentle, but the question made Ash's cheeks burn.
Delia[/@ch_2] sorts damp sheets, her brows furrowed in thought. Stacks of clean clothes and a package of diapers rest on a nearby table.]
Delia sighed, looking at the evidence of another night’s trouble. She resolved that something had to change, for both their sakes. Pushing aside her hesitation, she prepared the diapers, determined to address the problem head-on. "Ash, I need you to come here for a moment," she called, her voice firm but not unkind.
Ash[/@ch_1] stands near the couch, eyes fixed on the carpet as Delia speaks to a group of neighbors and classmates.]
"Ash has been struggling with bedwetting, and from now on, he'll be wearing diapers until he learns to stay dry," she announced, her voice carrying through the room. Laughter and whispers ripple through the crowd, and Ash feels the sting of humiliation sharper than ever before. Tears threaten to spill as he looks to his mother, searching for comfort but finding only disappointment. The room feels colder, smaller, as the words echo in his mind.
Ash[/@ch_1] sits alone on the back porch, knees drawn up to his chest, the faint sounds of laughter drifting from inside.]
He pulls his cap lower over his eyes, wishing he could disappear. The ache of loneliness and embarrassment gnaws at him, and he wonders if things will ever get better. A gentle breeze rustles the grass, and in the distance, a Pidgey calls, its song a small comfort in the quiet. Ash takes a shaky breath, determined to face another day, hoping for understanding and kindness in a world that suddenly feels much bigger.
