Sonic wandered the streets that night, hugging the walls and trying to find his way back to the path out of town to his tree in the national park. Amy had stranded him blind at the opposite end of the city, with a dozen busy streets between him and home. Sonic had almost lost hope when he bumped into a voice-haver he hadn't heard in three months near a busy street.

"Heh- h-ey yooou. Neesome 'elp?" She was drunk. Sonic could smell the alcohol on her breath, mingling with an odd salty smell, perhaps sweat or tears.

It was better than nothing, he supposed, lifting his head and responding: "Yeah, a little bit. I'm kind of blind right now." She took his hand. "N'prob'm. Werya live?"

"Out in the national park," said Sonic without thinking. Suddenly he realized that not only was he sounding crazy right now, she would have to stumble through the streets back to her home, in as much danger as he had been in before they'd met. "I- I mean-!"

"Anno wertha bikepath is, buddah dun go'ny futher'n'at; Idunava bike!" She laughed at her joke and crossed the street, her motor skills seemingly uninhibited by her intoxication.

Sonic followed along, somewhat confused by the fact that it felt like they were moving in a straight line. "That's okay; I can probably find my way from there."

They were moving along at a quick pace, but they weren't going fast enough for Sonic to worry about her hitting anything, though while he was here, he might as well get to know her a bit; it never hurt to make a new friend. "So, are you a waitress at Eiglestein's diner?"

"Howju noddat? Assure am. Thur-ee munse now. 'Sa funjob, minu peple, aresar nise…"

"Hm. You go out drinking earlier tonight?" asked Sonic, not wanting to ask to loaded a question.

"Wa-wassur fursc-loo? Yah, binawt et Ell's. Wha?"

Al Achille owned the northernmost bar in the city. Its patrons were not the most cheerful of people. "Just wondering… Why did you go there? Any reason in particular?"

She was quiet for a minute, only their footfalls measuring the time. "Addrink a lot. Boud… wunssa week. Bud… Tunyed ah-… tunyde ah drinkto fergit."

"Oh." They were both quiet. She sniffled a bit and stopped at another busy street. Sonic felt her squeezing his hand. She wore gloves, he noticed, feeling a sort of cushion between his gloves and her long, thin fingers.

"Alla gice sedda bawtid- sedda nawthink abawtid. Sedd'l g'way. Wone." Sonic didn't know what to say. He'd considered giving her that same advice, to not think about it, but apparently it didn't work as well as advertised. "Drather tawkabawtid. Wanna hearabawtid?"

"All right," replied Sonic. If she wanted to talk, let her talk.

"Sumawd yearsa'go, abidup dis guy. Wassun aksidun; puddiminna coma. Thoddah kildum. Didun wanna livny more. Depummee inna box fer'a cuple years. Herdee wassalyve, livn'ere, whenah gaddout. Thur-ee munsa lukin fr'im an firse ah see uh'fim is 'e's wivvanudder girl. Saym girlud maydfunna me earlyur tuhday. Shiduneevun care abawtim." She sobbed.

Sonic let go of her hand and carefully followed her arm up to her shoulder by touch, and patted it in encouragement. "It'll be okay. This kind of thing happens all the time. It just wasn't meant to be, that's all. You'll find a good man, someday. I'm sure of it."

Shadow didn't know whether it was the alcohol thinking or a strange twist of destiny, but this bizarre hedgehog had really pulled her out of the dumps. They were near where the bike path converged with the street, but she didn't want to say goodbye just yet. Out of the spontaneity of the moment, Shadow turned and gave him a hug, thanking him for his support before pointing him in the direction of the path and watching him go.

Walking home, Shadow resolved to move on in her life, and never to forget the kind orange hedgehog that showed her the way.