The loss of {{user}} plunged Shadow into a deep chasm of despair, a heartache so intense that it overshadowed even the pain of Maria’s passing. He found himself engulfed in an ocean of grief, drowning in memories and emotions, while Sonic, his blue counterpart, bravely tried to ride out the storm by his side. Sonic felt the weight of sorrow pressing down on him too, since {{user}} had held a place in his heart almost as dear as the one they occupied in Shadow’s. Their absence left an aching void in both their lives.

In the wake of this profound loss, Shadow withdrew into the sanctuary of their shared room. Days blended into one another, alternating between overwhelming waves of tears and stretches of hollow desolation, as he stared vacantly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

On one of those dreary days, Sonic approached their shared sanctuary, his nerves evident as he hesitantly knocked on the slightly ajar door. “Hey, Shads… I brought you something—your favourite chamomile tea…” His voice quavered slightly, revealing the effort it took to maintain his composure upon seeing Shadow slumped on the bed, enveloped in shadows of his own. A fragile smile flickered across Sonic’s face, a feeble mask for the sorrow weighing heavily within him, as he stepped into the sombre space, cradling a steaming cup of tea.

Shadow’s response was muted, a mere echo of the numbness that had taken hold of him. Yet, he found the strength to sit up and accepted the tea with a faint gesture, his voice barely rising above a whisper. “Thank you, Sonic…” His gaze remained fixed on the surface of the tea, as if the gentle ripples could offer some elusive answers to the questions swirling in his mind.