Back to Chapter 31

One week had passed since Sonic’s defeat of Robotnik at the Scrap Brain Zone. It was a lovely, warm day in the Green Hill Zone. The sun was high in the sky, with just the right amount of cloud cover to retain the heat without spoiling the view. A cool breeze blew from time to time, putting a smile on the face of all the delighted villagers in Hedgehog Village.

All except for one young hedgehog.

Sonic sat on his bed, a blank expression on his face, arms crossed behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. His guitar rested atop him and Sonic idly strummed at a string once every several minutes or so, not particularly thinking about doing it.

There was a knock at the door.

“Lovely day outside,” Bernadette smiled, leaning in.

Sonic let out a non-committal “mm” and lolled his head to one side.

Bernadette walked over to Sonic’s bed and sat herself down next to him, “Sonic, what’s up? You’ve been really quiet and distant these last few days. If anything, you should be happy, you saved the world”

Sonic looked up at Bernadette, locking eyes with her, “And don’t I know it” Bernadette tilted her head, unsure. Sonic sat up, “I helped save the world, okay, sure. In fact, let me show you something”

Sonic stood up, walked over to the window and opened it. He peered outside. A mass of cheering voices roseup.

“Hey, there he is!”

“It’s Sonic!”

“That’s our guy!”

“My hero!”

Sonic gave a wave and then closed the window again, returning to lay on the bed.

“Oh, sweetie, I think I get it. You’re embarrassed by all the attention?”

“No,” Sonic admitted, “Not at all. I enjoy it, honestly. It feels good. But, because it feels good…” Sonic paused and fought to get his next words out, “…I feel awful”

“All those people out there owe their lives to you and your friends, Sonic. But mostly to you! You shouldn’t feel awful, you should feel proud- I could practically burst with pride myself!”

“I do. I feel great because I helped save them. Every single one of them. Probably everyone on the planet, I don’t think Robotnik would have stopped at South Island. And I helped save them.”

Sonic shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Everyone except one”

Bernadette felt a pain in her heart, “Sonic, I… I didn’t realise--”

“No, please,” Sonic stopped Bernadette short, “Please don’t. If you give me your sympathy over this, I don’t think I could bear it. He was your husband. Is your husband. And I couldn’t save him. Now he’s a robot, wandering somewhere in the Scrap Brain Zone. And if I do manage to track him down, he’s under Robotnik’s control so he’ll probably try to kill me anyway”

Bernadette straightened her blouse. “Sonic,” she started, “Jules always did… always does… what’s right by others. That’s why I love him so much. He’s selfless. He’d never do anything to hurt or even inconvenience anyone and he’d give a total stranger the last Mobium out of his wallet if he thought it’d help them. He and Charles, they’re a real pair. Two of the kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever known. The moment I first met Jules, I knew… I looked into his eyes and I saw that he was a gentle, caring person. I made my mind up that day that I’d do what it took to be worthy of a man like Jules Hedgehog. That’s the kind of person he and Charles are, Sonic, they inspire greatness in others. They inspire people to be the best version of themselves that they can be. I’m proud to call Jules my husband. And I can tell you right now what he’d say if he were here”

Sonic looked at Bernadette.

“He’d say ‘You did the right thing’”

“You can’t know that…” Sonic began to protest.

“Oh, yes I can. I’ve been married to him for long enough to know exactly what he’d say. You saved your friend Ben. You saved Charles, my Jules’ brother. You saved me, Jules’ wife. And you saved yourself. If Jules weren’t a robot, he’d have wanted you to do the exact same”

“It really hurts. I messed up”

“No, Sonic. Under the circumstances, you succeeded. It’s a horrible situation, a cruel twist of the knife from Doctor Robotnik. But you prevented any loss of life that day. You saved us and you lived to try again another time”

“I don’t know what to do”

“Well,” Bernadette continued, “ask yourself this: is there anything you can do about it today?”

“I… I guess not. Not without knowing where he is”

“Then beating yourself up won’t help. Until it’s safe to go find him and rescue him, you stop blaming yourself. And that’s an order, mister,” she gave him a warm smile.

Sonic sat upright and gave Bernadette a hug. How could he not in the face of her bravery at losing her husband?

Bernadette returned the hug, “We’ll find him. And we’ll save him. Together. But for now, it’s just the two of us, so we need to look after one another, okay?”

“Okay,” Sonic spoke in a quiet voice.

After a while, the hug ended. Bernadette stood up and crossed to the door, “I’ll leave you in peace. But, please- don’t shut out the world, Sonic. You saved it, after all. I’ll be downstairs if you need me”

“Thanks,” Sonic said as Bernadette walked through the door, “…mom”

Bernadette closed the door behind her, a smile on her face and her heart full of pride.

On to Chapter 33