>>58207525
>”Okay, but do you know?!” Mom repeated.
>”Nobody knows!”
>”Don’t pretend like you know.”
“I didn’t say I know, God!” You swore.
“It just happens.”
“I just woke up like this.”
“There’s nothing you can do.”
>”But you don’t know that.” Mom said back yet again.
>You’d be talking in circles if you pressed the point.
>And she was right.
>You didn’t know for sure how or why you transformed.
>You’re sure the news was filled to the brim with people offering everything from alternate dimensions to Japanese super-bioweapon.
>If it was contagious, you might have infected a lot of people in that crowd.
>If that old police captain woke up with feathers or scales covering him, you might agree it was transmissible.
>You let Mom have the victory.
>She continued talking about what the news said.
>And, to give her credit, it wasn’t something you were wholly familiar with.
>You weren’t online as much as you used to be.
>Mom explained the CDC cautioned everyone to steer clear of pokémon for worries of contagion.
>And safety.
>Some places already had problems with fire-belching monstrosities, inexplicable hauntings, and clashes with local fauna.
>International flights being shut down for all but essential travel.
>The stock market was nothing but down.
>Communities pointing fingers at one another.
>And a somber reminder of families being torn apart.
>She brought up a few stories so viral even mainstream news reported them.
>Changed pets devastating houses and injuring owners…
>An entire missing family…
>The brionne girl…
>It managed to calm down even Dad, who you were sure drove with a white-knuckled grip.
“I’m sorry, okay?”
“I’m sorry if I hurt y-“
>”If!?” Mom corrected you.
>Bad word choice.
>Hard to be entirely sorry.
>It wasn’t that big a deal for you.
>What was a big deal was the lack of support, and care, and...
>She should be apologizing to you…
“For not telling you.” You continued, remembering your place.