When one goes into a rather acute depression, it is not really easy to come out of it. Actions you normally feel you would NEVER do, you find yourself slowly doing them over…and over again the longer and more painful your depression gets. Not only do your actions get altered, but what you see, hear, feel, ext. can be altered as well. What could normally be an act of kindness from a fellow friend or family member can become something entirely different.

Take it from a person who has suffered this for a while now. Everything you will later read is how I have been feeling with my own depression and anxiety, only altered to fit into this story.

~Misty

The aura was rather black, empty, and cold; the young hedgehog looked all over, but couldn't see anything in the far distance. His ears fell as he felt taps of rain hitting his forehead. He tried to shake off this weird feeling of sadness, shrinking slowly. They left you…a dark, evil voice echoed behind him, its frozen breath brushing past his neck, causing his quills to stand up. They don't love you…they don't care…

The hedgehog backed up, his back hitting a frigid wall, microscopic needles stabbing his back like icicles. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but he had no courage to cry out. The villainous voice vibrated inside his ear, freezing his body. He fell to his knees, frozen tears sliding down his muzzle. Slowly, the hedgehog started to shake his head, repeating in his head, "They wouldn't leave me…they love me…they care…" over and over and over again, fighting off the dark voice.

One of the icy-needles jabbed him in the back, coming through his chest. He cried out in pain, flinging his head out in fright. He blinked, seeing his warm, comforting bed, the blankets still covering his legs. He was panting, sweat falling down his face as he looked around; trying to find that evil voice, but it was gone. "Good reddens…" He rubbed his neck, saturated from cold sweats. His ears were still low, not yet up and working.

Getting out of his bed, the young hedgehog stumbled rather sluggishly into the restroom next store, staring deep into his own, dull green eyes in the mirror. He blinked, lifting his ears up, fixing his puffed up quills. "Get ahold of yourself, Sonic," He mumbled, trying to sound strong, hiding the fear of the voice far away from his self-conations. "It was only a reoccurring nightmare…I shouldn't eat all that junk before hitting the pillows." He gave himself a smile, flicking his tail as he followed his shadow down the stairs, looking around. It was empty. Out of nowhere, a freezing chill flew up Sonic's spin, his ears' tips reaching as high as they could.

He looked about, hearing nothing but his frantic pants and jagged movements a crossed the carpet. His attempts on brushing the fear away grew harder and more challenging. They left me… He shook the thought out of his head, seeing a note on the fridge.

It read: Sonic, the girls are out shopping in the city, so they'll be awhile until they come home [you know how woman are.]. Chris is at school, he didn't want to wake you, and Chuck and I are out working on our Science Fair presentation. We'll be out much longer than the rest, maybe by dinner tonight. I'll see you then, alright?

-Tails

Sonic sighed, placing the note on the table, resting his head between his crossed arms, reading the note over once again. His mind began to wonder off, pondering. Why didn't he wake me? He thought to himself, sadly. He turned his head to the clock on the wall and began to day dream. Maybe…he thought I was sick…or just didn't want to wake me…he does go to school rather early…

He shook his head, snapping his fingers with an idea. "I'll go take a nice run! That'll get my mind off of things!" He rushed out the door, only after fixing his shoes on, and bolted out of the yard, into the great outside. He took a rather long deep breath, feeling calmer already. The birds' wings fluttered as he ran past them, fleeing from fear of attack. He watched as they flapped, flying passed him quickly, letting off a soft chuckle.

A sudden sharp pain flew in his right arm, causing Sonic to jump. His arm started to shake as the pain started to burn. He took a glance, seeing a rather swollen red mark on the underside, a bee's stinger in the center of the wound. "You have GOT to be kidding me!" The hedgehog grunted as he bent his head to the stinger, taking its butt end in his fangs, pulling it out; tears quickly fell as he pulled. The stinger popped out rather quickly, causing his wounded arm to start tinkling blood out of its hole. Quickly, Sonic spat out the stinger and started licking the wound out of instances. "Stupid bee…how did it get the chance to sting me?"

His ears flew up as he saw Chris' school. His tail started to flick happily, running up to it with rather swift movements. He saw his human friend at the fence with his friends, and his heart fluttered. "Hey Chris," he squeaked, leaning on the other side of the wire.

Chris turned his head, smiling at the sound of Sonic's voice. "Well, Sonic; what brings you here?"

The hedgehog felt a rather odd sharpness in his chest. You left me without saying goodbye, he thought to himself. "Well…you left for school without waking me…I was just wondering why." His foot started to rub the ground in circles.

Chris leaned on the fence, yawning. It was still early, after all. "Well, I didn't want to disturb you from your sleep. You never know when you'll be fighting…you know who." Sonic only blinked at the comment. "I mean, if you are sleepy and cranky from lack of sleep, how could you fight him?"

The hedgehog merely twitched his ear, a little aggravated. "I've dealt with worse before; I think I can handle Doctor Butt-Man all sleepy. But thanks for the concern…" His tail flicked happily as an idea popped into his head. "Hey! Why don't you and I go to the Ice Cream Shop today, after school! Just the two of us…I mean, I'm alone and all…"

Chris' expression changed from happy to concern. "I'm sorry, Sonic…"

The hedgehog's ears fell, his heart sinking. "S-Sorry?"

"Yeah…I'm going out with my friends today after school."

Sonic gave off a weak smile, his tail slowly going between his legs. "You know…I can join you guys…right?"

Chris shook his head. "We got a rather important test coming up soon, so we are going to be studying all day. I'm sorry, Sonic."

The hedgehog slowly backed away, his head shaking lightly, almost not at all. "No worries, Chris, it's alright."

"You ok?" The question stunned him.

"Y-Yeah! Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" He lowered himself. "Well…I'll see you later?"

Chris nodded. "See you later, Sonic."

The hedgehog turned, dashing more slowly than he normally would back home, curling up in his bed. What is this feeling? He thought to himself, he is going to study for school…I would have just distracted him…He turned over on the pillow, covering his head. "H-he doesn't need that…" He doesn't need me…