The snow blanketed the ground outside. She hated walking through the snow. It was pretty, but only from inside; when you’re stuck outside, your feet get cold and eventually go numb. It was difficult to enjoy the beauty through the pain.

It was dark. Amy just got off work. She had a website pulled up on her phone from where she had been looking for more presents for Shadow. An idea brewed in her mind but she wanted to wait until Shadow was fully recovered before she bought it for him.

Her heels clicked on the tile floors of the hospital. She knocked on Shadow’s door softly before going inside.

Amy gasped. It had only been a few days since she had seen Shadow last, but he already had patches of skin showing through his thinning fur.

Shadow was propped up on pillows, connected to tubes, his head laid back against the pillows and his eyes closed. He had dark circles under his eyes and appeared very strained. Next to him was a nurse who was writing something down on a clipboard.

“He’s lost a lot of fur already.” The nurse told Amy. “We’re going to try to replace his skin before much of it comes off to avoid infection.”

Amy grimaced. Shadow was so frail and weak, much smaller than she had ever seen him. His lustrous onyx quills had lost their shine and were quite noticeably thinner. Patches of red skin could be seen on his arms and face from where the fur had shed.

She wanted to hold his hand, show him some sort of affection to let him know she was there, but she refrained. Touching him too much could give him an infection; besides, he needed his sleep. Amy glanced over at the present pile and saw a tray of soup next to the wilting flowers, untouched. It was a small cup of soup that appeared to have grown ice cold hours ago.

Amy frowned “He’s not eating?”

“Hardly.” The nurse walked over, her shoes clicking on the floor. She lifted the tray up to take it away. “When he’s on his painkillers, he has no appetite; when he’s off them, it’s too painful to eat.”

“That’s terrible.” Amy whispered, gazing at Shadow’s thin face. His eyelids were soft against his eyes and he almost had a smile across his thin, fragile lips.

They looked like beautiful lips, Amy thought, although she quickly banished the thought.

“He’s going into surgery next week.” The nurse told her. “We need someone to help him recover. You and your friend have been coming here to visit him frequently, perhaps one of you two could take care of him.”

“He can stay with me.”

Amy was struggling financially, especially after paying Shadow’s hospital bill, although at least she got a discount from being part of Team Sonic. Amy felt guilty for not giving Sonic a chance for input, but at the same time, she was the only one with a job and her own home. Sonic mooched off Tails, which was bizarre since Tails was younger than he was.

The nurse left to tell the doctor the arrangement. Amy was left to Shadow, who was sleeping peacefully.

Amy sat down at the chair by Shadow’s bed. His eyes shut tightly and his body stiffened. At hearing his stark breaths she got up to try to wake him.

She was afraid to touch him, not only because his skin caused him severe pain, but from the nightmares he had. It was clear that Shadow couldn’t sleep without night terrors, and now he was in a position where he spent the majority of his time asleep. His mind was forcing him to live in his own personal hell.

“Shadow!” Amy stroked his arm. “Shadow, please wake up, it’s okay, I’m here.”

Shadow’s eyes snapped open. He sat up quickly, which caused him to groan in pain. He flopped back down onto the bed, wincing once again before focusing his eyes on Amy.

“It’s alright, Shadow, I’m here.” Amy continued to stroke his arm. “Did you have another nightmare again?”

“It… it was about Sonic.” Shadow gasped. “He was…”

Amy tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“He tried… to force himself upon me.” Shadow shivered.

“Oh. Did he tell you?” Amy’s smile died. She figured Shadow would like Sonic back. Who wouldn’t?

“Yeah.” Shadow grimaced. “I’m not sure what to do.”

“You don’t like him back?” Amy questioned. “How come?”

Shadow slowly turned his head to look at her, giving her a questionable look. “Why would I?”

“Because he has clear morals.” Amy tried to smile although her lips fell limp. “He cares about everyone and wants the best for them. He generally tries to do the right thing which is commendable. Although…”

Amy frowned at the memory.

“He rejected you.” Shadow spat. “That idiot…”

“But you have a chance with him!” Amy held his hand tightly, a bit too tightly from the appearance of Shadow’s sour expression.

It hurt Amy immensely to try to help Shadow get with Sonic, but at the same time it hurt too much for Sonic to be single. She couldn’t live with herself knowing Sonic was also single. That he would much prefer to be alone than with her.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “Just because I have a chance doesn’t mean–”

Amy’s hands began to shake. “I… I don’t know what I want you to want…”

“What do you mean?”

“Like… I don’t know what I’d prefer you do, it’s just… I can’t live with Sonic being single. I can’t. It’s going to hurt too much knowing he’d much rather be alone than have me.”

Shadow’s hard expression softened. “Rose, that’s not what he’s thinking. Sonic cares about you–”

“Then why the hell doesn’t he like me!” Her tears flowed hot down her face and onto the sheets. “I can’t understand–”

“Amy. He won’t love you how you want him to love you.” Shadow squeezed her hand. “It’s okay.”

It made him feel uncomfortable comforting her, but at the same time, she needed him. She had given him so much support; the least he could do was comfort her when she needed him. What Amy needed was a guiding voice, just as he needed at some times. They each needed a guiding hand although in different ways, so hopefully they could each help each other.

Amy shook her head vigorously before she spoke again. “It’s just… I just… I want him to love me. I’ve tried so long to get his attention, yet after all this time…”

“Amy, it’s not your fault he doesn’t like you.” Shadow tried to lean over toward her although stiffened from pain. Amy’s eyes flashed with tears. “Sonic doesn’t like women. That’s just how he is.”

Shadow couldn’t believe he was defending Faker like he was. He despised Sonic for the stunt he tried to pull the other day! Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen him since then… Thank goodness! Shadow didn’t know if he could handle Sonic period, let alone a Sonic trying to flirt with him!

There was anger in Shadow’s voice. It wasn’t that he was angry at Sonic for being gay, or even mad at Amy for wanting him to get together with Sonic; rather, he was angry at the situation. Angry that Sonic could not appreciate the gift that he had just thrown away.

He sighed. That’s just how it was. At least it meant that Shadow now had a chance with Rose. Hopefully.

“I know now.” Amy said sadly. “I just wish he would have told me earlier… maybe he didn’t know… I don’t know…”

“Perhaps.” It felt very in-character of Sonic to not pay attention to his own feelings of attraction. Shadow, on the other hand, was very aware of his own.

“Sh–Shadow?” Amy began nervously, her heart thumping with heavy beats. “I really hope you’re happy with Sonic.”

“But Amy–”

“I could tell you liked him for a while. The way you two flirt with each other.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” This caught Shadow off guard. Nevertheless, Shadow continued. “Amy, I’ve never flirted with Sonic before because I don’t like Sonic. Hell, not even as a friend! He’s an annoying bastard who doesn’t care about anyone!”

“I… I didn’t realize…” Amy murmured. Her expression crinkled in frustration. “You don’t have to insult him, Shadow.”

“I know.” He had a playful smirk on his face. “I know I’m right, so it feels justified.”

Amy rolled her eyes then returned to a more relaxed expression. “How have you been feeling? Did they tell you about–”

“My skin grafts? Yes, they told me.” Shadow grimaced. “I can’t believe I won’t have any fur or quills anymore after this…”