Sweet sixteen had finally come and gone. She was now on her way to becoming an adult, a woman with ideals and a career and a future laid out in fancy brick steps ahead of her. All she had to do was take that big step.

Her parents had, naturally, encouraged her to remain in Sinnoh and take up her floral internship closer to home. It made sense- they loved her and they wanted to assist her in any way they could. But she, surprisingly, wanted to unfurl her wings and take a step outside of the comfort of her parents doting arms.

That, and the heart wants what it wants, and ever since Finley Black had moved to Hoenn, she had felt three parts empty.

Was it impulsive? Yes. Was it stupid? Definitely. There was a very good chance she was throwing a line out into the big, wide Hoennian ocean only for Finn to turn her down as she had him. Honestly, she wasn't even sure he was still here.

But it was worth a shot, right?

Ophelia exhales nervously, her breath shaky as she presses the doorbell and sets her heavy luggage down. She's brought nearly her whole life with her. She lived humbly, so the suitcases were really only filled with clothing and the like, but it was enough to widen your eyes at.

When the door opens, Filly breaks into a warm, beaming grin - and is quickly pulled into a warm hug just as she is about to bend down to pick up her bags again.

"Oop! Illie, hi! Wow, gosh, it is so good to see you."

Tears well up in her eyes, and she returns the hug.

illeana reyes

☉

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i”]don't release just yet. savor the moment. etch it into your memory.

warmth radiates between their bodies, their smiles, their blissful tears. she feels them prickle at closed corners. gravity tugs until one escapes and like rain, they fall in succession. one after another.

her hold tightens.

and then releases, suddenly aware that she's likely suffocating.

"i missed you," she whispers. her body pulls enough to hold filly at arm's length. and there she lingers, glancing the teenager over as a mother would a child. "god, you're so big now!" a memory of younger versions plays in her mind's eye. they were so small, then. so innocent, so pure. and then time ebbed and flowed as it always does and they're no longer the same as they were.

she still holds the memory close, cherishes it.

"pretty, too!" a giggle escapes. it's a chiming sort of sound, reminiscent of a soothe bell.

finally she releases. filly's bags are collected with quick movements, her smile never managing to slip away from her lips. it spreads roots into the bones of her cheeks and grows.

"come on," she steps toward the open door. "i have a surprise for you."

a single pokeball awaits on the kitchen table, adorned with a satin bow.

Ophelia Reyes