Amy was in the thrift store, peeling through a rack of gaudy clothing. She needed to make sure Shadow had enough clothes when he recovered.

You’re not his mother.

She grimaced. Her thoughts were right; she was not his mother. This didn’t mean that she couldn’t be a supportive friend, though.

It was a week after her interaction with Sonic in the hospital. Sonic had started isolating himself from everyone. Eggman hadn’t attacked since Shadow’s injury, so there was nothing for Sonic to do but mourn Shadow’s injury.

Shadow still hadn’t woken up. The doctors were beginning to worry that he wouldn’t make it.

Amy tossed a dress shirt into her cart aggressively. She was angry at Shadow; he wasn’t waking up! It wasn’t Shadow she was mad at, but the entire situation; yet her mind convinced her that it was Shadow she was frustrated with. There was no one else to be angry at but herself, and she was terrified what might happen if she were to dwell on her own pain.

She wasn’t sure if she could hold up any longer. It was crushing pain. Amy wasn’t even sure why she cared. Her reaction to Shadow’s “death” was much more mild than her emotions now, which was strange since the first situation was much more dire. 

It was because of Shadow’s mental health. She frowned at the memory of what Shadow had told her.

“I almost went into a dark place again, Amy. One where I would have hurt myself or other people–”

Her throat clenched tight. The twang of her heart knew that feeling very well. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt that now. She was afraid of lashing out at people from the despair she felt from the situation.

Why was she so upset? She didn’t know him that well. He had only gone into his personal life once, yet she felt like she knew him quite well. Still, there was much to be desired from the elusive Shadow the Hedgehog; she didn’t know his favorite food, his favorite weapon, or even what brand of eyeliner he used. She knew those weren’t important to who he was as a person, but she desired to know all the same.

What did he value in other people? What did he like about himself? Why did he want to stay with her over anyone else? What did he see in her? All these questions and more churned in her mind. How she wished to know him better!

Beyond this, she wanted to help him. To be with him through all his pain, to be a sort of anchor through the tsunami of suffering he had to endure.

Amy put on a brave face despite the waves of uncertainty pounding against her soul. She would be an anchor for Shadow.

She looked back down into her cart. She got quite a few outfits for Shadow, all of which were much more stylish than the t-shirt and sweatpants he usually wore, as well as some journals and a few books he might enjoy reading once he woke up. He’d be bed bound for a while, so he would need some things to do.

When she left the thrift store, she looked up at the sky. The sun was just beginning to set. There were only a few hours left to see Shadow until the hospital closed visitation for the night.

Her eyes felt heavy. After a long day of work and shopping, all she wanted to do was go home and relax. She did have a K-drama to watch, although she doubted she even had the energy for that. To be honest, a good night's sleep would help her more than anything.

She had felt so alone in her own home for the last couple weeks, which didn’t quite make sense, as she had always lived alone. There was this emptiness to her house that she had never experienced before–like it felt too big for just herself. The shadows in the corner of her living room reminded her of that night with Shadow and how she had comforted him. She sighed at the memory of the hollow space.

Shadow was in a nightmare. Again. He most likely was reliving his memories from the Ark, and having to suffer over and over again, endlessly.

There were two more hours left. Amy picked up her walking pace, ignoring the plethora of thin plastic shopping bags weighing down her wrists.

She had to see the Ultimate Lifeform. Tonight.