I run... I hide... Yes. I run because I want to escape. I hide because I'm scared. Frightened. Alone. Nervous. So if I don't run will that make me brave? If...If I don't hide... will I die? Why did you have to prove your bravery, right there in front of me?

Did people have to see you as some kind of a martyr? Did they? Did you have to belittle me so?

I was of higher authority than you were. The, "talk of the town". But no. I'm the one who survived it all. I'm the strongest. Then...why do I feel so weak? Why do I feel so belittled? Why must you keep entering and re-entering my head?

....I know I did wrong. I know I should have reached my hand farther. I...I would have been able to catch you. I don't know what you were thinking. Did you want to die? Did you think of me as a murderer? ...Why? Leave me alone... just...get out ... of my head.

Emerald eyes shot open with an immediate gasp following. Bad mistake. The harsh light of the rising sun burned his eyes. Sonic quickly put his hand to his eyes. He couldn't open them without tearing due to the harsh light, so he just kept them closed. He muttered a curse word under his breath as he slowly tried to open his eyes again. They were barely even adjusted to the light. But he had kept them open anyway. He wasn't going to get very far in seeing if he had just kept them closed.

He had picked up his hand and realized that golden sand was coming out of the small hole at the bottom of his gloved fist. He sighed. His eyes were fully open now.

He sat back using his arms for support "Another stupid dream". But it wasn't a dream. It was more of a debate between him, and himself. The only thing he could remember was running to Emerald Coast. He never remembered himself being sprawled lifelessly on the sand. Damn....this was truly eating at him.

With one last long deep breath he stood up, and stretched out. As he reached out to the heavens, if he didn't look so tired, his position would have spoken for him. "Please dear Lord...just take me." His body cast wavy shadows across the soft sand dunes.

His arms loosely hung at his sides, and his same usual tired face was pasted on again. What time was it now? Like 7:30? He sighed. He looked at the blue water. The sun causing the water to sparkle, like little diamonds forever trapped in its liquefied cage. He couldn't help but stare, even though it hurt his eyes, it was so calm, peaceful. Relaxing in a sort of way.

He felt as if for the first time, in his fast-paced life, that he had actually slowed down to see what was before him. He hadn't been to the beach for the longest time. It was one of his favorite places. He would of course, always be irked out by the water, but today, was just so different somehow. He didn't feel as if the waves were going to come alive and eat him, like he had always ridiculously thought.

He took the time to hear the sound of the waves, echoing through the walls of his mind. He heard the sea foam dissolving with its usual fizzing sound. His heavy breaths turned to soft breaths as he shut his eyes. Nothing could interrupt him now. He was too deep in concentration. "Soooooonic!" Well...there was that... He opened his eyes irritably.

Oh God no. PLEASE no. He turned his head quickly and saw Amy Rose in tropical print beach dress. The red and pink Hawaiian flowers matched with her carnation pink fur perfectly.

She had a white towel draped across her neck and a yellow beach ball underneath her arm. Her burlap beach bag hung loosely on her shoulder. One strap secured on her shoulder blade, the other sliding off down to her forearm. Her red sandals made their way silently across the soft sand to meet up with his red sneakers.

He kept a puzzled look on his face. Why so many things? She smiled, handing him the ball while she put the bag's strap back in its place.

She grinned. "Mind helping me out here?" she cheerfully spoke in a half giggle. "Uhh...no...not really...sorry." He replied as he helped her with her beach things. "Thanks Sonic. Umm...what are you doing at the beach?" She asked, a quizzical expression replacing her toothy grin. "I dunno, just hangin' around I guess." "At the beach? With all the water?" "Tch. I've been in the water before." "Yeah...but you sank like a rock." You could definitely tell that she was trying to stop herself from bursting in a fit of laughter. He gave her a bored, annoyed look and simply ignored the fact that she was telling the truth. He was a hell of a runner, but didn't amount to anything when it came to the water. He must've been the largest hydrophobic on the face of the planet.

"Just stop foolin' around an' tell me where you want your stuff." "Right there. Underneath that palm tree." She said as she pointed in the direction of the tree. He sighed heavily, and quickly placed her things underneath the shade. "Hey Amy, why so many things?" "Cream's with me. A hermit crab caught her attention, and well you know how curious that little girl can get." Amy pointed out. He simply looked at her, and nodded in agreement. "Miss Amy! Look! I caught it!" cried a sweet voice not too far behind the pink hedgehog. The small rabbit was racing towards the two, with her hands slightly clamped together. Her sky blue chao, Cheese, following close behind.

Cream came to an abrupt stop when she held up her hands, and spread open her small palms to reveal a small hermit crab. It had a swirled shell on its back, and a large claw that had a blue color with hints of an orange hue. It must've been no bigger than a regular-sized gumball.

"Hey Cream! That's a really pretty one! But you're going to have to let it go okay?" Amy reminded her as she kneeled down to the small child's height. "Of course Miss Amy! I wouldn't want it to miss its home!" She smiled brightly. Sonic couldn't help but give a tired smile. Cream's smile never seemed to fade away. He was so envious of this little girl's innocence. "Hey kiddo." He softly spoke to the little rabbit. "Oh, good morning Mr. Sonic!" she cried. Giving him yet another innocent smile.

He patted her on the head. "You can just call me Sonic, okay?" Okay Mr. – oop!" she cried as she caught herself. She couldn't help but giggle. He smiled. "I'm going to go put Crabby back 'kay?" "Okay Cream. But don't go too far out in the water okay?" "Okay Miss Amy. I promise that I won't" She gave one last smile as she put the crab down by the wet sand. Sonic watched the crab scuttle its way back into the ocean. With its source of protection on its back, it was now returning home. And for once, Sonic felt jealous for one of the world's smallest creatures. And he felt as if he couldn't control it. It was escaping from a little girl's hands; it was escaping from people it didn't recognize. And it was going where it was wanted most.

Finding it harder and harder to breathe each time Sonic stepped back into the city, He had to start getting used to it. Like the bustling streets, and the crowded sidewalks, and the newspaper stands on every corner. Most of the time, he didn't mind the smell of car exhaust in the air. But today, he kept on crinkling his sensitive nose to the foul scent.

Maybe he would pay a visit to Tail's workshop. It was nice there, in the Mystic Ruins. They had stopped excavating a while ago, so it was really quiet there. Nothing but the sound of water falling, and the wind, rustling against the lush, green trees, and not to mention the sound of birds chirping. Tails found a great spot to build his home. He would definitely pay a visit to him today. He was quite bored.

Suddenly his trail of thought was interrupted. Where was he? It was too large of a crowd. He felt suffocated. Random people he didn't even know started to give him smiles. Unknown smiles to him made him feel odd. Some tipped their hats, some just stared and smiled. Now you know why he hated crowds. Suddenly, he realized that he was in the outskirts of town. He felt a wave of relief inside of him. He'd been here before, why had he looked so lost? Then, the sudden image of the small hermit crab came to his mind.

Teh boredness...Teh long chapters...teh 5:30 in the morning tiredness...teh..ZZZZZZZZ:snore: enjoi......