"For without you my life is without meaning."

Part 17 of 20 of the ongoing saga "Love is such bitter sorrow"

Slowly, two figures, both clad in black, approached the small hill, its snow covered surface being decorated with only a small oak tree, bare from the winter chill, below which three carved stone tablets stood, two smaller ones flanking a larger one. They stopped a short moment, then the smaller of the two started walking up, leaving the larger alone at the hill's foot. As this figure approached the tablets, the writing on the smallest two became readable. The head of
the figure swings to both.
Pikachu
19??-2006
True Companion. Loyal Friend and Protector. Died of a Broken Heart.

Togepi
1997-2001
Your stay among us was but short. Your time came before it was meant.

Looking back to the centre tablet, the figure raised its hood to reveal a woman, her face framed by orange hair falling down to her shoulders. Slowly, her gloved hands draw a rose from within her cloak. With utmost care, she kneels down and places it before the final tombstone. Her face rises and the writing upon it becomes clear.
Ash Ketchum
1983-2006
Your realisation came, but the time we had together was cut painfully short. If only you had known.

"Ash..................."
She struggles to hold back the tears, but is unsuccessful. She bows her head. It is almost 10 minutes before her crying subsides into sobbing, and another 5 before that too stops.
"Ash.........I...........you.....you said.......th......that you wanted me to....to.....that after you were gone to.....to.....try and keep....keep living....... To try..........to try and find someone.......someone else who could.......that I could........could..........."
Again, she collapses sobbing. Tears run freely down her face.
"Ash.........why did you have to leave us...........leave me."
Slowly, the raises her head.
"I tried Ash. I tried to keep on living. I tried to forget you and move on." Her eyes close. "I couldn't. I could never forget you. You haunt my dreams. I keep seeing you die in my arms, over and over again. I can't live like this Ash. I need you. I need to be with you.......Ash........"
A gloved hand came down to rest on her shoulder. She hadn't even heard him as he had approached.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this Misty?"
With one final sob, she nodded her assent.
"Alright then."
With silent grace, she stood and turned to face him. His hand reached into his coat. Slowly, he pulled out the small handgun, then the silencer. With deliberate slowness, as if to give her time to back out, he screwed the silencer on, then raised the gun to her head.
"No. Here." Her right hand pointed to her heart. It was a symbolic gesture. The same place where Ash had been shot. His aim moved to her heart. His hand wavered.
"Goodbye Misty."
He turned his face, not wishing to see what he was being asked to do. As his finger slowly pulled the trigger, he heard her voice for the final time.
"Goodbye Brock. Thank you."
Then there was only silence. With his tear filled eyes downcast, he placed the revolver in her gloved hand, the diamond ring on her middle finger glinting against the snow covered ground. As he turned away, walking down the hill, moving quickly lest someone had seen what had happened, his thoughts drifted to his own family, his wife and two daughters. Ash and Misty had deserved as much. But now it could never be. With a tear rolling down his cheek, he began the long
walk home.