Nighttime approached as an invitation for Amy, who was tired of playing heart games. Her emotions could no longer bear the burden of the day's disappointments. Perhaps tomorrow her lifelong crush will see her in a different light. He had to after all they have gone through, adventuring and fighting the mad doctor.
Every time he pushed her away, she decided to patient with him. Hopes would rise high, anticipating his returning love for her. Several times she pictured how he would turn around to look at her saying how blind he had been to see the wonder that she was. Just four simple words, I care about you would be enough to know if her heart was true to her.
Her hands rested along her comforter thoughts lost to her marvelous hero. He was the answer to everything. When her kingdom fell to ruins, no one could make her feel special or secure like Sonic did. So many times he saved her never asking for anything in return. Sunk down into the comforts of the mattress and feather stuffed pillow, her eyelids rolled down.
A sudden bang downstairs made her heart jump and her head stuck out of the sheets like a jack in the box. At this time of night only one thing could make that noise. It had to be Sonic returned. Running a marathon down the lengthily stairs, she marched into the living room. Partway down, she recalled another stranger in the household. Shadow never left the residence and should not move!
Racing faster, she reached her destination to find a collapsed hedgehog flat on his stomach. Once again he was pushing past his limits. No surprise there, she knew from past experience that tough men like Knuckles and Sonic would not take no for an answer. It was even possible that Shadow was worse than Sonic. The thought that he was seriously injured made that a frightening thought.
Why she should worry about him did not need questioning. If someone was lying down before her helplessly injured, she could not help but do what she could for them, even if they happen to be cranky like certain male hedgehogs. It was not as though Shadow could really do anything to her and her friends.
Reached down to scoop her arm under his, she supported his shoulder. Gentle fingers pressed into his chest fur. Another gash that she over looked was hidden under all the thick white chest fur and refused to heal. The blood smeared into her hand made that evident.
Horrified and beating herself for missing it, she escorted him back to the couch. She expected him to comment, growl, or even glare at her, but instead he looked groggy. The injury was affecting him horribly. With nothing done, he might not make it. The very thought made her cringe at the reality of the matter. Her pitiable attempts to bandage him might not be enough. He needed professional help, a doctor, or anything.
The spots where she bandaged him had nothing covering them. The one hand that she patched however still had its binding surrounding it. When she rested his limp form onto the couch, her hand carefully removed it. The cut was long disappeared.
The skinny removed cloth in her hand fell to the ground. He left it on even though he did not need it but why would he? Did he not realise that it was no longer needed? One glance at the other ripped bandages told her otherwise. Blood still poured from those cuts.
Eyes widened at the out pour of his life's supply of blood she raced to the kitchen to snatch a ton of cloth bandages. He must be tended to, nothing else mattered. If she allowed him to bleed out because she was insufficient, she would never forgive herself.
Taking a damp cloth as a bonus companion, she knelt at her patient's side. Slightly conscious, Shadow moved his hand away from her. Surprised at his motion, she pressed one figure against his mouth, "Shh. Don't move. Go back to sleep."
Eyes partly open but not focused on anything, they peered pleadingly to the ceiling. They resembled ice cubes on the verge of thawing. Moistened and longing, they stared. A single word fell from his parted lips, "Maria…"
His heart had long refused to warm because his mind deep down knew there was something wanting to attack him emotionally. With it opening up through Rose's generosity, there was no telling what would happen to him. There was nothing for him to do other than to accept Maria's tragic death, death by cold gunshot.