Whiskey and regret (sonadow

What the hell

The silence in his apartment had become unbearable. It wrapped around Shadow like a suffocating blanket, tightening with every second that passed without a reply. The empty walls seemed to close in, pressing the memories of Maria deeper into his mind. He couldn't stay here. Not like this. Not with the ghost of his past tormenting him, and Sonic's silence only making it worse.

With a heavy sigh, Shadow dragged himself out of bed. His limbs felt like lead, weighed down by the sorrow he couldn't shake. He grabbed his coat, slipping it on as he cast a final glance at his phone. Still no reply. He slipped it into his pocket, a hollow pit forming in his chest.

He needed something to quiet his mind. Something strong. And there was only one place that could offer that.

The bar was dimly lit, a far cry from the sterile quiet of his apartment. The hum of low conversations filled the air, punctuated by the clink of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter from some distant corner. Shadow stepped inside, the familiar scent of alcohol and wood instantly hitting him. He hadn't been here in a while. Maybe it was time to come back.

The bartender looked up as Shadow approached the counter, recognizing him with a silent nod. He didn't need to ask what Shadow wanted; he poured a glass of whiskey, neat, and slid it across the counter without a word.

Shadow downed the first glass in one go, barely tasting the burn as it slid down his throat. He grimaced, but the warmth spreading in his chest was a welcome distraction from the cold knot of grief he'd carried all day.

The bartender raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply refilling the glass. Shadow stared at it for a moment, watching the amber liquid ripple as he tapped the edge of the glass with his fingertip.

Sonic still hadn't replied.

The thought gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit. Why did it bother him so much? Why did he expect anything different? He wasn't the type to lean on others, especially not on a day like this. But Sonic had been there lately, always checking in, always offering his lighthearted jokes — always present. And now, when Shadow felt like he was unraveling, Sonic was nowhere.

He took another sip, slower this time, letting the alcohol dull the sharp edges of his mind. It helped. Just a little.

More time passed, and the world around him began to blur. Faces in the bar became indistinct shadows, voices fading into the background as the whiskey worked its way through his system. He wasn't drunk yet, but the buzz made everything feel just distant enough. Just numb enough.

Another glass. Then another.

"Rough night?" the bartender finally asked, breaking the silence between them.

Shadow didn't respond right away, staring at the bottom of his glass. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. "Rough month."

The bartender gave a sympathetic nod but didn't pry further. He'd seen enough people come through here with their own ghosts. Shadow was just another lost soul trying to drown whatever haunted him.

The phone in Shadow's pocket buzzed, and for a split second, his heart leapt. He fumbled for it, hands slightly unsteady from the alcohol, but when he looked at the screen, disappointment crashed over him. It wasn't Sonic. Just another useless notification.

His grip tightened around the phone, frustration bubbling up beneath the surface. Why hadn't Sonic replied? Was he busy? Or just... avoiding him?

Maybe he was pushing too hard. Maybe Sonic didn't know what to say, or didn't care. After all, Shadow had always been distant, cold, hard to reach. Why would Sonic stick around for that?

He stared down at his half-empty glass, the golden liquid reflecting the dim light of the bar. Sonic's absence left a hollow ache in his chest, one that the alcohol couldn't quite reach. And no matter how many glasses he drank, it wasn't going to wash away the memories of Maria.

But it helped. Just a little.

Shadow leaned back in his seat, letting the noise of the bar wash over him. He closed his eyes for a moment, the alcohol tugging at the edges of his consciousness. If only he could drown everything else out this easily — the memories, the pain, the silence that threatened to swallow him whole.

The bartender placed another drink in front of him, but Shadow didn't touch it right away. He stared at the phone again, thumb hovering over Sonic's name in his contacts. He shouldn't care. He wasn't the type to rely on anyone.

And yet...

He typed a quick message. Forget it. I'm fine. Shouldn't have bothered you.

Send.

He waited, but his phone remained silent. Just like it had all day.

Shadow let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. He took another long drink, the alcohol burning its way down. Sonic wasn't coming. He was alone in this, like he always had been. He'd survived this long by keeping his distance, by building walls so high no one could reach him. He didn't need anyone.

Or at least, that's what he told himself.

The night stretched on, and Shadow lost track of time. The bar became a blur of sounds and movement, but it all felt distant, like he was watching from behind a glass wall. The alcohol numbed him enough to make the pain manageable, but it didn't erase it.

Nothing ever would.

As the bar began to empty out, Shadow finally stood, feeling the weight of the day settle back on his shoulders. His mind was hazy, his thoughts jumbled from the drinks, but one thing was clear: Sonic wasn't going to reply tonight. And maybe that was for the best.

He paid his tab, stepping out into the cool night air. The world outside was quiet, the streets mostly empty. Shadow shoved his hands in his pockets, his phone still tucked away, unanswered messages lingering on the screen.

He didn't know where to go next. The apartment felt too suffocating, too silent. But wandering the streets didn't feel much better.

As he walked, the faint hope that Sonic would text back faded with every step. And with it, Shadow felt himself retreat further into the darkness he knew too well — the familiar loneliness that came with losing the people he cared about.