46. Reflection

"Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother with that asshole," Sally hissed, sapphire eyes narrowed dangerously. Amy stared at her from across the table they were seated at, ears flattened against her head from the downright hostile tone that bled from her voice. The sun was shining, sitting aloft in the sky, but an icy aura shrouded Sally and she wore it like a beautiful coat. It was rare for her to be like this, and Amy could scarcely remember the last time she had witnessed this side of one of her dearest friends. It was both concerning and unsettling.

"What do you mean?" Amy asked, her voice even, but timid. Her jade eyes were alit with wariness as she ate her food. She could only watch in stunned silence as Sally viciously stabbed her food with her utensils, a murderous look gracing her face.

"I meant exactly what I said earlier. I don't know why I try when it comes to Shadow. Do you know how damn frustrating it is to care about someone who refuses to let you care about them or help them or love them? Every time I feel like we're getting somewhere, he shoves me away like I'm diseased-ridden and I'm just tired of it."

The anger melted away from her visage like ice cream on a blistering summer's day, and in her anger's place is a look of such deep sadness that it makes Amy's heart break and ache for her. She reached over and holds Sally's hand in hers, gently coaxing her to meet her gaze.

"You must love him an awful lot to go through this." They both snorted, the irony of the words not lost on either of them. Amy was all too familiar with the unpleasant sting of an aching heart, but at least Sonic didn't treat her as dirty as Shadow's been treating her. "But, if you want to call it quits and focus your energy on other things, then you have my complete support. You ultimately have to do what's best for you, and you shouldn't have to throw away your happiness just because he doesn't appreciate it."

Sally flashed her a watery smile, hopping out of her seat to engulf her friend in a hug that said what words she couldn't get past her throat. Amy returned her gesture, rubbing her back soothingly, never once complaining about the tears wetting her shoulder. She loved Shadow like an older brother, and she hoped he'd see what he had before he lost it.

After spending several hours with Amy, who easily lifted her spirits with her cheerfulness and kind words, Sally was finally ready to come back home. Deftly unlocking her door, she stepped inside, shutting the door softly behind her. Her good mood almost immediately evaporated at the sight that greeted her. Sitting comfortably on her plush couch was none other than Shadow himself.

His attention was focused on the tv, but at the sound of her arrival, his gaze shifted and found hers. Crimson and sapphire meet, like fire and ice clashing, and Sally felt her heart lodge itself in her throat. Trying to steady her wavering emotions, she chose to ignore him, but of course his ass wasn't having none of that. As soon as she tried walking by him, his hand lurched forward and latched itself on her arm, effective halting her exit. He yanked her back, causing her to stumble into his arms and crash against his chest.

"Let go of me, Shadow," she snarled, her fangs bared, her eyes furious as she glared at him. His expression was stern, his lips worn in a frown as he met her gaze dead on.

"Not until we talk about this," was his response, and when she tried to loosen his grip on her, he only tightened it instead, to the point where it borderlined hurt.

"Oh, so now you wanna talk to me. After you ignored my calls, shut me down, and pushed me away, now you wanna fuckin' talk to me?!" The last part of her sentence was shouted, startling him. Using that to her advantage, she yanked her arm out of his oppressing grip, anger bleeding throughout her entire body.

"I did my part, Shadow! I loved you, I supported you, and I cherished you! I did everything right, and it's still not enough for you! Well, I'm tired of your shit and this farce of a relationship! I'm tired of letting you walk all over me, ignoring me and pushing me away when all I've done is try to be good to you and do good by you! Now, get the hell out of my house. NOW."

It was deathly silent now, save for her heavy breathing. Her chest was heaving, and her throat hurt from yelling, but she could care less. And when he gave her a look filled with heartbreak and sadness, she could care less about that too. Good. He deserved to hurt, to feel the pain he inflicted on her so cavalier. Let him get a taste of his own medicine for a change.

"Sally-" he began, reaching out for her, but Sally was quick to swat his hand away and cut him off.

"No, don't "Sally" me. I don't want to hear it, Shadow. You don't get to do that me. You don't get to use my heart and emotions against me. I'm not dealing with that shit," she declared, a finality in her voice that had Shadow's heart shattering like glass. He looked at her, really looked at her, and felt his lungs compress painfully at the sight that greeted him.

Her normally bright eyes were dull, lifeless, bags hanging under her eyes. Her lustrous auburn locks were hanging limply down her shoulders, and though her eyes were brimming with anger, he could also that they were overflowing with sadness and wet with tears. It killed him to see her like this, even more so that the reason she was in such a pitiful state was because of him.

So, with a heavy heart, he did as she bid him. Willing himself not to touch her, to cry out her name or shed tears of his own, Shadow grabbed what few belongings he had over here and, after sparing her a fleeting glance over his shoulder, her cheeks wet with tears, he took a shuddering breath before turning around and made his departure, leaving nothing behind but his broken heart and the broken woman he loved, even if he did a shit job of showing it.

Sally bit her lips, fighting the urge to chase after him, to call him back. Because as much as her heart yearned for him, her mind was smarter and refused to let her give in so easily. Sighing, tears still dripping down her cheeks, she trudged to her room, trying her hardest to put this all behind her.

Love hurts. Sally could relate to that almost too well.