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Shadow sat on Maria’s empty bed. He wiped his eyes.

It had been two weeks since Maria had died. Shadow hadn’t been outside the house since the funeral.

Gerald stepped into the room. “Shadow?”

“What?” Shadow asked.

“Sonia is here.” Gerald replied. “She asked to see you.”

Shadow sighed.

“She’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” Gerald said. “She’s in the living room.”

Gerald headed for his office as Shadow got up and headed to the living room.

Sonia got up and hugged Shadow. “Hey, I’m so sorry.” She said softly.

Shadow sat down beside Sonia. “I’m sorry. I haven’t felt like calling or anything.”

Sonia nodded. “I understand.”

Shadow motioned to the box on the coffee table. “Your present’s there.”

Sonia bit her lip. “I can look at it later.” She replied. She handed Shadow a bag. “I got you this. Merry Christmas.”

Shadow sighed.

“I know, it’s not a merry Christmas this year.” Sonia said. “I’m just used to saying it.”

Shadow set the gift down. “Thanks.”

“I won’t say I know exactly how you feel.” Sonia said, rubbing her arms. “But I know what it’s like to lose a loved one near a holiday.”

Shadow angled himself to face Sonia. “You do?”

“Yeah.” Sonia said, nodding. “My dad died two days before Thanksgiving when my brothers and I were seven.”

Shadow slid his arm around Sonia’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

Sonia exhaled slowly. “He was on his way home from work.” She said, wrapping her arms around herself. “A car crossed into his lane and hit him head on. He was killed almost instantly.”

Shadow gently squeezed Sonia’s arm.

“We were waiting for him to get home for dinner.” Sonia said. “Well, sorta. Mother let us eat because it was getting late and Sonic was starving. Anyway, we got the call and Mother was screaming and crying. We didn’t know what was going on at first. Then, she called our uncle and asked him to come over before she told us.”

Sonia sniffled.

Shadow handed Sonia a tissue.

“Thanks.” Sonia said, voice shaking. She wiped her eyes with the tissue. “We all cried, of course, and we all took it hard. We didn’t even celebrate Christmas. Mother gave us our presents, but we didn’t open them until much later. My brothers and I broke down screaming and crying.”

“Can’t blame you.” Shadow replied.

Sonia gave herself a minute to gain her composure. She drew a shaky breath. “So it took a while and some grief counseling, but we got where we could kind of celebrate other holidays. We still can’t do Thanksgiving. We just do charity work on that day. We went to a children’s hospital last month. It was Manic’s idea to do charity work.”

“Maria wanted to do things like that.” Shadow said. “She did get to gather canned goods for food drives and donate old clothes to charity.”

Sonia slid her hand into Shadow’s hand. “She was such a sweet girl.”

Shadow nodded.

“If you’d like, you can join us for volunteer work.” Sonia said. “We’ve thought about doing charity work on Christmas too. We go to a grief support group once a month. Would you like to join us?”

“I’d like to do charity work.” Shadow replied. “I’m not sure if I want to join the group yet.”

Sonia grinned. “That’s okay, just let me know if you change your mind.”

Shadow glanced at the kitchen. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“Actually, I came by to ask if you’d like to go to the coffee shop.” Sonia replied. “We thought you needed to get out of the house.”

“I guess you’re right.” Shadow said.

Sonia got up and held her hand out to Shadow.

Shadow got up and followed Sonia out the door, texting Gerald to let him know he was heading out.

*

Sonia and Shadow walked in the coffee shop.

Sonic waved at Sonia.

“Oh, my brothers were coming here and Manic wanted to give you something.” Sonia said. “We don’t have to sit with them though.”

Shadow and Sonia walked over to Sonic and Manic’s table.

“Hey, good to see you outside for a change.” Sonic said.

Manic pulled a medium sized box off of the ledge next to him and handed it to Shadow. “I hope you like it.” He said. “Sonia helped me a little.”

Shadow carefully opened the gift.

The gift was a painting of Maria and Shadow when she was six and he was two.

Shadow stared at the picture.

“That was your favorite photo, right?” Sonia asked.

“Yeah.” Shadow replied. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Manic said. “It took a few days to make it. Sonia made the artwork for our albums while I worked on this.”

“Great job.” Shadow replied.

“You’re welcome.”

Manic and Sonic got up.

“We’re ready to head out, you two can have our table.” Sonic said. “Have fun.”

“See you at home, sis.” Manic added.

Sonic and Manic left the shop as Sonia and Shadow took their seats.

“Gerald gave me a copy of the picture and I gave it to Manic.” Sonia said. “It was my idea and Manic was happy to help.”

“Thanks, it means a lot to me.” Shadow replied.

*

Shadow walked Sonia to her home after quickly dropping the portrait off.

Sonia hugged Shadow. “That was fun,” She said. “I hope you enjoyed it too.”

Shadow nodded. “It was great.”

The door opened.

Aleena was standing in the doorway. “Aww, is that Shadow?”

Sonia sighed. “Yes, Mother, this is Shadow.” She replied. “Shadow, this is my mother Aleena.”

“Nice to meet you.” Shadow said.

Aleena stepped aside. “Why don’t you two come in?” She asked. “I made lunch. Sonic’s favorite.”

Sonia looked at Shadow. “Do you want to come in for chili dogs?”

“I can come in for a few minutes.” Shadow said.

Sonia walked Shadow inside.

Aleena closed the door behind them. “Sonia has told me so much about you.”

“She’s an amazing girl.” Shadow said.

“Sonic, wait for Ma and Sonia.” Manic said.

“Ah, she’s taking too long.” Sonic replied.

Sonia, Shadow, and Aleena walked into the kitchen.

Manic furrowed his brow. “Where’s your picture?”

“I took it home.” Shadow said. “Gerald hung it up in the living room. Thanks again for that.”

Manic grinned. “Ah, don’t mention it.”

The family gathered at the table.

“Your grandpa is pretty fun.” Sonic said. “He showed us a few home videos while we were there.”

Shadow sighed.

“The one where you were dancing was hilarious.” Sonic said.

Manic snickered while Shadow snorted.

“Tell him you were born in a Sonic bathroom.” Sonia said.

Sonic’s face turned red.

Shadow smirked. “That’s fitting. You’re as slow as they are.”

“Hey, I’m faster than you.” Sonic said.

Manic sighed. “Here we go.” He muttered under his breath.

“After lunch, I will race you if you’re not afraid, that is.” Sonic said.

“Fine, only because I haven’t done my morning run today.” Shadow replied. “Not because I’m afraid of you.”

“Boys, does it matter?” Sonia asked.

“Look, I’ll count you down and all, but there won’t be any do overs or best two out of threes.” Manic said. “We’re only doing this once.”

“Fine with me.” Shadow and Sonic replied.

*

Sonia stood beside Aleena and Manic as Shadow and Sonic stood in the middle of their street.

Sonic stretched his legs. “Manic, what’s the rules?”

“Okay, you race to the end of the street and back here.” Manic said, getting his phone ready. “One lap. Countdown from three, run on go. Got that?”

“Yeah.” Shadow and Sonic replied.

Sonic and Shadow took their starting positions as Manic started recording.

“A’ight.” Manic said. “Three, two, one; go!”

Sonic and Shadow ran off, neck and neck, and came back seconds later.

Manic checked the footage. He gave a low whistle. “Man, it was close, but Shadow won by just half an inch.”

Sonic groaned. “It’s his stupid air shoes.”

“I didn’t have them activated.” Shadow said.

“It was very close, bro.” Manic said, shutting his phone off. “Hey, at least you didn’t bet on it.”

Sonic gave a weak shrug. “Eh… I still say I’m faster.” He replied. “I was racing on a full stomach, after all.”

Manic, Sonia, and Shadow rolled their eyes.

“Well, no rematches.” Aleena said. “You don’t need to drive yourself crazy over it.”

Sonic sighed. “Mom, I’m eighteen.”

“Think of it as an intervention, bro.” Sonia said.

“Fine.” Sonic replied. He held his hand out to Shadow. “Congrats, Shadow.”

Shadow nodded. He checked his watch. “I’ve got homework to do.” He said. “I’ll see you later, Sonia.”

Sonia hugged Shadow. “See you later.”

Shadow hesitated, then hugged her back.

“Love you.” Sonia whispered.

“Love you too.” Shadow whispered back.

Sonia let go. “I know, you hate PDA.” She replied. “But thanks. Good luck.”

Shadow half smiled before heading home.

Sonia joined her siblings and mother, then headed back inside.

“So how’d you like him, Mother?” Sonia asked.

“He’s great.” Aleena replied. She hugged Sonia. “I’m glad you’re happy, Sonia.”

“Thanks, Mother.” Sonia said.