The fluorescent lights of Sterling Properties hummed with a monotonous drone, a soundtrack to Miles Lennon's decidedly un thrilling life. At 24, he was a mid level data analyst, a cog in the machine of property valuation, his days a predictable cycle of spreadsheets, market trends, and the occasional lukewarm coffee. It wasn't a bad life, not really. His parents were proud, his health was good, and his small apartment was clean and functional. But it wasn't his.
He'd chosen the path of practicality, a decision driven by a desire to ease the financial burdens on his parents, who had sacrificed so much to give him a stable upbringing. He'd stifled that creative fire, the wanderlust that whispered of distant lands and untold stories. He'd traded adventure for security, passion for pragmatism.
But there was an outlet, a flickering flame that kept the embers of his spirit alive: Pokémon. It wasn't just nostalgia for a childhood fascination. Pokémon was a universe of endless possibilities, a world where he could be a hero, a strategist, an explorer. It was a vibrant escape from the beige reality of his day job.
And the latest release, Pokémon Scarlet, had truly captured his imagination. The open world, the intricate storylines, and the innovative new Pokémon had reignited his passion with the force of a wildfire. He spent hours meticulously building his teams, strategizing his battles, and delving into the lore of the Paldea region.
He was especially taken with Gimmighoul, a mischievous Ghost type Pokémon that hid in treasure chests, collecting coins. It was a unique and challenging Pokémon to evolve, requiring the collection of 999 Gimmighoul Coins scattered throughout the game world. It was a tedious task, but Miles found a strange satisfaction in the hunt, in the methodical exploration of every nook and cranny of the Paldea region.
He enjoyed the process of finding those coins because it let him travel, it let him explore the pokemon world. It wasn't like his real life, sure he had a car but what's the point of having it if he will just use it to go from work to his apartment. He wasn't going to lie, he did wanted to travel around the world. If it wasn't for financial issues he would've loved to travel but money doesn't grow on trees, that's why he found a stable job and a good paying one so he can enjoy a good life with his family. But that didn't stop him from wishing.
It was a Tuesday, a particularly dreary day in late September. The air was crisp with the promise of autumn, but the sky was a dull, overcast grey. Miles had been staring at spreadsheets for the past four hours, his eyes glazed over with data points and profit margins. He desperately needed a break.
He glanced at the clock. 12:32 PM. Lunchtime.
He grabbed his Nintendo Switch, a small container of leftover pasta, and headed for the small park across the street from the office building. It was a modest green space, a patch of grass punctuated by a few tired looking trees and a handful of park benches. But it was an oasis of calm amidst the urban sprawl, a place where he could momentarily escape the confines of his cubicle.
He found an empty bench near a small flower bed and settled in, opening his container of pasta. The pasta was bland and slightly congealed, but he barely noticed. His mind was already back in the Paldea region.
He fired up Pokémon Scarlet on his Nintendo Switch. He was close, so close. He had 997 Gimmighoul Coins. Just two more. Two more coins and he could finally evolve his Gimmighoul into the magnificent Gholdengo.
He scrolled through the map, his fingers tracing the routes he hadn't yet explored. He knew there were a few promising locations on the outskirts of town, areas he hadn't had time to visit yet.
He ate his pasta mechanically, his eyes glued to the screen. He found one near a lighthouse. "Huh that would be nice" He said out loud. The lighthouse was a place where he wanted to be. Watching the stars and the moon at night, enjoying the sounds of the ocean. That would be magical.
He finally found his second to last gimmighoul coin in his virtual world. His fingers tapping as he scrolled on his map. The other one seems to be on the other side of the map. Perfect! That gives him something to do.
He didn't even see the truck.
One moment, he was consumed by the virtual world, his fingers dancing across the screen, his mind racing with excitement. The next, there was a deafening screech of tires, a blinding flash of headlights, and a crushing, agonizing impact.
His Nintendo Switch flew from his grasp, skittering across the pavement. His pasta container landed with a soggy splat. His body was thrown violently from the bench, landing heavily on the unforgiving asphalt.
The world exploded in a kaleidoscope of pain. Every nerve ending screamed in protest. He felt a sharp, searing agony in his chest, a crushing weight on his legs. He couldn't breathe.
His vision blurred, fading in and out. He could hear muffled voices, distorted and distant. He could feel a warm, sticky liquid pooling beneath him.
He tried to move, to speak, but his body wouldn't respond. He was trapped, paralyzed by pain.
As his consciousness began to fade, a strange sense of calm washed over him. The pain receded, replaced by a growing numbness. The world around him seemed to slow down, the sounds becoming muted and ethereal.
His last thought, before the darkness consumed him entirely, was a quiet, wistful lament: "I never got to evolve my Gimmighoul."
The truck driver, a man barely older than Miles, stared in horror at the scene he had wrought. He'd been distracted, glancing at his phone for just a moment, and that moment had cost a life.
He stumbled out of his vehicle, his face pale and contorted with grief. He rushed to Miles's side, his hands trembling as he reached out to help.
But it was too late. Miles Lennon was gone.
It was a senseless, tragic end to a life that had barely begun. A life filled with unrealized potential, stifled dreams, and a quiet yearning for something more.
A life that ended on a park bench, distracted by a Nintendo Switch, with two Gimmighoul Coins left to find.
He never saw the truck.