Tw: mild cursing

You stare at the ceiling, awaiting the buzz of the alarm clock.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

It's shrill call begins every day. Unlike many days, today would be a good one, you told yourself. You became 16 today, the age your mum called, "The day you get your bloody head out of the clouds!" In those words exactly. You'd get presents, perhaps a party, but most importantly, your first Pokécat. At the ripe age of 16, your first Pokécat. Sounding the words out in your head only made you more excited as you flung on jeans and a t-shirt, ready to start the day.

"Morning Y/N" Said your mum cheerily, not taking her eyes off of the pancakes she was flipping.

"Good morning Mum" You said, watching as she flipped perfect circular pancake- wait, not perfect, one side was entirely deformed. Her Pokécat, an elegant Snowsong glided into the room, a half-full bottle of maple syrup clamped in its jaws. It flicked the bottle in the air, cap open. Usually, the stuff wouldn't leave the bottle, but the syrup flew out, leaving a small trail on the kitchen floor, and a big splat on the pancake. Unlike a normal human being, your mum would add water into the syrup when it was near finished so she wouldn't have to buy some more. You're not in the richest family, but it's not as bad when it's just the two of you. But not for long.

Snowsong layed a plate in front of you, her icy eyes fixed on you as your mother let the pancake flop lazily onto it. She scratched the white cat, letting it purr.

"When's your appointment?"

"Eight"

"Well you better hurry up then!" Your mother urged, "It's 7:45!". Your eyes widened in surprise as she hastily snatched a roll of tinfoil. She thrust it into your hands and you fumbled around with it until you could wrap it around your pancakes. Your mother looked at you, her eyes softened for a moment. You stuffed the tinfoil blob into your cherry-red backpack, which had a small pile of clothes and your phone inside. Surprisingly little for moving away; it was your dream to pursue the life of a Pokécat trainer. You pulled your arms through a cheap puffer jacket. You were about to walk out the door before your mum pulled you into a hug. You buried your face in her neck, tears welling in your eyes.

"Be safe out there" She sniffed, resting her head on yours. Holding you by the shoulders, she said sternly, "You better eat those pancakes, I don't want you to starve. You can come home any time, remember? Just at least try a few gym battles". There it was. Your mum knew as well as you did that there would be no future for you if you came home. Pokécat studies is pretty much the only subject you passed at school, with mathematics almost there. If you did return, you'd have no life. Your mother would think of you as a cheapskate who barely did chores. Another thing, unlike everyone else's normal parents, your mum would let you do the chores instead of her Pokécat. You'd be worthless, forgotten.

"I will" You promised. Your eyes were glassy but you still managed to navigate your hand to the door handle and push it down. It was a blur. You were out the house, just like that. Out to pursue your dreams. Out to make a living. You took a final glance at the pale yellow house, it's cream door with peeling paint, the sad look of Snowsong peering out of the window before you began walking to the lab.