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You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.
—Joni Mitchell
The soft breeze under the evening sky rustles the trees, sending their leaves to drift with the wind. The warmth of the sun envelops the scene, casting shades of pink and orange across the landscape. Everything appears to glow on its own as if the statue before him truly embodies the hedgehog he once knew.
The statue was decorated with a variety of colorful flowers. Half of the flowers were in vases, while the rest are wrapped into bouquets. It was a remarkable sight, with each display featuring more flowers than the last.
Beneath the statue, there was an engraving of his name along with the date of his passing. Below it, a line said: “knight of the Wind, and savior of Earth”. It was humorous, given that he was never one for grandiose awards or labels. Yet, the world did the opposite.
As Shadow gazed down at his hand, he held a single bluebell flower with its petals half withered. The color reminded him of the other’s quills, bright and vivid, standing out from the rest. He gently placed the flower in front of the pedestal.
“Happy birthday, Sonic.”
His eyes landed back on the hedgehog’s radiant face. He could’ve sworn the statue’s smile widened. It was either the lack of sleep getting to him or his memories starting to blend with reality. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and walked away, ignoring the tightness forming inside his chest.