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Sonic was losing his mind.
Pacing in his room, this is all that he could think because why wouldn’t she leave his thoughts as easily as she had left him?
Well, that wasn’t fair. She had left for good reason. She wanted to go explore places she had never been before. To share her experiences and love with the world. It was everything he wanted for her. To experience her own adventures. To live a life of her own. To discover who she was without him.
So why did he feel this pain in his chest, like a part of him was missing?
An aggravated sigh fell from his lips as he dragged his hands through his quills. He felt like he was going insane. No amount of running allowed him to outrun these particular thoughts. He felt like he was caught in an intricate web of complex feelings, and every time he tried to untangle himself, the threads tightened their hold. He spiraled, thought after thought speeding through his brain.
He hadn’t heard from her in weeks. Was she still alive? Was she making friends? Where was she? Was she missing him just as much as he missed her?
He scoffed. Of course she missed him. But then why hadn’t he heard from her?
Sonic fell into his seat, forehead smacking against the wooden table as he groaned. It was past midnight. Sleep had eluded him lately. Instead, he'd spent his nights staring out the window at the stars blinking down at him, wondering if she was looking up at the same sky. Then he cursed himself for thinking about her. Again.
He peeled his form up, drumming his fingers along the wooden surface. Perhaps if he heard from her, these incessant thoughts would stop? That had to be it. He was just concerned about her because it had been weeks. He just needed to know she was okay and he could move on with his life.
And so, he took out paper and a pen.
Amy,
Hey! How's the world treating you? Hope you're having fun out there and haven't gotten yourself into too much trouble without me around. ;)
Haven't heard from you in a while, so I figured I'd check in. You're doing okay, right? Found any cool places? Met anyone interesting? Hopefully not too interesting, because we know I’m the most interesting hedgehog you know. Anyway, just writing because I miss you and I can’t stop thinking—
He paused, staring at the ink pooling around the last letter he'd written as his pen stalled. Absolutely not. He crumbled up the paper, throwing it toward the trash can. It bounced off the rim, falling to the floor. The corners unfurled, taunting him with those words.
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed another paper and started over.
Hey, Ames! How’s it going out there?
Hope your travels have been fun! And safe and productive. I’m sure you’ve made so many new friends out there already!
I just wanted to reach out and let you know that I’ve kinda been thinking about you more lately, and not to sound weird lol. I mean… I’ve known how you feel about me for a long time, and I guess something about how things went on Starfall Islands made me think…I don’t want to lose you. I love that you’re out there having the time of your life, though. I guess I just miss you.
Don’t rush your time out there but I was thinking maybe whenever you get back, maybe you and I could go out? I think I’m ready to talk about some stuff that I wasn’t ready for before–
Sonic stared at the words sprawled across the page, his own handwriting suddenly looking foreign to him. He took the pen, scribbling over the entire page until nothing was legible. What. The. Hell.
“Come on, Sonic,” he muttered as he grabbed a fresh sheet of paper. “Get it together. This shouldn’t be so hard. Just ask her if she’s okay. Just tell her you miss her. That’s. It.”
Still, the blank page taunted him as he tapped his pen against it, rehearsing the words in his head before committing them to paper. He started casual, like the last two. How he was proud of her taking initiative and leaving to discover herself. How he couldn’t wait to hear about how she was doing. But then, thunder rolled across the grassy hills. He snapped his head up, a flash of lightning illuminating the rain that hammered against his window without warning.
Wish we could be sharing an umbrella, Amy. I should have made up my mind sooner.
That’s what he had thought. When she was trapped in cyberspace, and he was terrified he wouldn’t be able to rescue her. That they were all going to die on those islands. That he was going to die without her knowing how his feelings were slowly changing.
Of course you can do whatever you want but the idea of you being gone made me sad and I thought I was going to die on those islands but I didn’t tell you because I thought I’d make you change your mind and I didn’t want you to do that because of me.
I think I actually have feelings for you. But if I send this stupid letter then you’d cancel your cool plans and come running back and again I don’t want you to ditch your plans because of me.
Sonic reread the last two paragraphs of his letter, frowning. He leaned his cheek on the palm of his hand, watching the rain droplets race each other down the glass of the window. He couldn’t say this in a letter. That wasn’t fair to her. She deserved to hear a confession out loud. If he could gather the courage to speak those words out loud.
For now, the letters would remain unsent. He stuffed them into the bottom of his drawer, burying them away from the light. Locking them tight in the back of his mind. And he started over, determined to keep this particular letter light and carefree.
He still didn’t sleep much that night.
Amy stared at the envelope addressed to her, blinking as she took in the familiar handwriting.
Sonic.
Her heart swelled as she brought the envelope to her chest, squeezing with eyes closed as if she were physically hugging him. She couldn’t believe she was holding a piece of him. That he had sat down long enough to write something to her. She laughed at the thought, a smile spreading across her lips as she once again took in his messy handwriting.
Oh, how she missed him. There were moments of weakness where she almost turned around and ran home to him. She wondered if she was strong enough to do this on her own. But she heard his voice in the back of her mind, encouraging her. Telling her she was enough when she dramatically exclaimed she would no longer be a damsel in distress and he would learn to rely on her.
Her face flushed as she recalled how his emerald eyes shimmered as he smiled down at her at that declaration, pride radiating off his form.
So, when it got hard, she clung to that moment. She wanted to contact him. Wanted to reach out, but she was afraid if she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from going back to him.
He was her weakness. He was her strength.
Amy fingered the wax on the back of the envelope, tracing the ring emblem. With shaky hands, she ripped it open and pulled out a single sheet of white paper.
Hiya, Ames!
Just wanted to write to say I hope you’re doing well out there. I know you are, because you are strong and can take care of yourself just fine. We all miss you, but know you’re doing great things and hopefully not getting yourself into too much trouble. But if you do, I know you can get out of it. You can do anything.
It’s raining here. You know how much I hate being stuck inside when it rains. Guess I figured I might as well put the time to good use and write to you. Hope you’re having better weather wherever you are! Anyway, just wanted to check in and let you know we’re all thinking about you.
Keep doing your thing out there. I know you’ll be amazing! I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.
-Sonic
Amy relished the swirls of his scratchy handwriting. She reread the letter, then again, until she had it memorized, his voice pouring into her head with every pass. She could almost see the exact expression he would have worn with each sentence. Her fingers traced over the sentence, we all miss you. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew that we meant I.
As she peered closer, she noticed faint indentations in the paper. Scribbles and crossed-out words, invisible beneath the fresh sheet but still tattooed into it from his previous musings. Her lips curled into a wicked grin.
Oh, Sonic. How many drafts had he gone through before settling on this simple little letter?
The very thought made her heart sing with giddiness. And she knew just what to do for him to remind him that he was on her mind, and would always be in her heart.
Sonic was beginning to think Amy took the sunshine with her wherever she went because the rain was an ever constant reminder that he was drowning here alone. Tails was gone. Knuckles was back to guarding the Master Emerald. Amy was finding herself.
And for once, Sonic was the one left behind.
He let the drops fall upon his body as he folded in his umbrella, resting the point upon the concrete as he stared at the box at his door. He tried to rein in the hope. The foreign feeling of his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He took a tentative step. Then another, until he was bending down, shielding the package from the onslaught of water.
Her handwriting beamed up at him, and he couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face.
Sonic stood up, package in one hand, umbrella in the other, and retreated to the warmth of his home. He shook the water off his quills, opening the box with careful precision. A card stood upon a smaller red box. He blinked. Did she buy him…a gift?
Hey, Sonic! <3
Happy Birthday! I’m not sure when this letter will get to you, but I know it’s coming up, and I’d rather be early than late! I’m sorry about the rain, I know how much you hate to be stuck inside. But I hope this will help you brave the water and go exploring all the world has to offer when the rain falls. While I love the sunshine, there is a certain kind of beauty in this weather, and I hope you slow down to notice it.
I’m doing great! I’ve met a ton of nice people, and I’m staying out of trouble ;) I miss you, though. I miss everyone. I can’t wait to share all my stories when I finally come home to you.
With all my love,
Amy Rose
Sonic couldn’t stop the stupid smile that overtook his face at her words. He had thought hearing from her would make him feel less insane, but it was the opposite. She was okay. She was more than okay. But he couldn’t stop himself from wondering what she was doing at this very moment. He was half inclined to immediately grab a pen and write back, but he shoved down the impulsive thought. She was doing well. She was happy. She was encouraging him, like he had for her.
He shook his head, staring at the letter with affection. Of course she had figured out he was worried and found a way to calm his nerves in her own way. That was Amy for you. Always finding a way to make even the dreariest days a little brighter. Sunshine incarnate.
Sonic put the letter to the side, grabbing the red box, inspecting it carefully before opening it. A laugh toppled out of his mouth before he could contain it. Because of course she would.
Red rainboots. Glaringly familiar to not only his shoes, but her own boots.
“Let’s test these bad boys out,” he said, slipping them on. A perfect fit. He glanced one last time at the words she wrote for him before racing outside between raindrops.
Perhaps next time he saw her, they could go exploring in the rain together while she caught him up to speed on her adventures.
Sonic couldn’t wait.