PoV: Rouge

  The kid was still sleeping at midnight. I needed to wake them up in case they had a concussion. I soaked a towel in cold water and wrung it out. I placed it on their forehead. It too a while but the change in their body temperature made them start to wake up.

  Their eyes slowly opened, they were beautiful... a vibrant green, just like demantoid garnet or emerald! They weren't moving or speaking yet. They were still waking up. Their eyes we gently watching their surroundings until they finally fell onto me.

"Hi," I removed the cloth from their head, "My name is Rouge, I found you hurt so I took you back to my place."

"... This is... you're home...?" Their voice was soft and horse.

"Would you like some water?" I offered them a glass with a straw in it.

"... yes... please..." they started to slowly get up and winced.

"Take it easy," I helped them up, "You don't wanna hurt yourself."

"Thank you..." they took the water and slowly drank.

"So, what's your name?" I asked as they slowly sipped on the straw.

"Um... it's... hm..." they stared into the cup for a bit, "Sonic... I think..."

"Do you know where you live?" I took out my phone's GPS to type in the address...

"I can't remember... I don't remember where I live..." they gripped the cup.

"Can you remember any phone numbers or family?" I felt worried now, if they couldn't remember anything they wouldn't be able to stay in the hospital.

"I'm sorry... my name is all I know..." they started to cry, "I can't remember anything... why..."

"Do you remember what happened to you?" I was hoping to at least get the story.

"All I know is that I woke up here... with you..." they started crying again, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Maybe you'll be able to remember after some sleep," I helped them up and led them to the bathroom, "Let's clean you up first."

"Okay..." They let me pull their torn up clothes off and I finally got the answer to a question that had been silently nagging me. This was a boy. A cute one at that.

"You don't look like you have any broken bones... I'm going to apply some pressure to check," I told him.

"How can you tell by touching me?" He asked.

"I used to be a nurse," I explained, "But that job was too much for me. I couldn't stand all the bullshit anymore."

"Ah!" He yelped as I pressed down on a bruise. It wasn't broken but the bruise looked awful, "It hurts..."

"I know..." I started a warm bath for him, "I'm almost done."

  After a check up I put him in the bath. I washed him off carefully and even gave him a quick shower to be sure he was clean. I cleaned off the couch and stitched up the cut behind his ear for him. I bandaged all his cuts and scrapes. I gave him some of my clothes to wear, they were too big for him but it covered atleast.

  I gave him a light meal and some juice to get something into his stomach. He seemed to be okay after that, but he had no memories. He couldn't even remember what the name of the food I fed him was. It was a turkey sandwich. We were luck he could remember him name at least. Well... with no memories there's no way for him to cause trouble. I guess there's no harm in him staying for a while.

"Sonic, you can stay with me for a while, okay," I held his hand.

"Thank you..." he hugged my arm and started crying again.

"Stop crying, it's okay. You can sleep on the couch for now."

"I'm scared... what if I can't get my memory back?" He squeezed my arm.

"It'll be alright. Your memory should come back over time. Get some sleep for now. I took the day off tomorrow so I can help you."

"Day off?" He titled his head and dropped an ear.

"From work. I am a waitress at a cafe."

"I don't understand," he was going through a lot right now. I couldn't bombard him with information.

"I'll explain it to you tomorrow, get some sleep."

"Are you sure everything will be okay?" He didn't want to let go of my hand. He was scared... and in a place he didn't know.

"Sonic, it'll be okay. I'll hang out with you a while longer. Until you fall asleep," I told him.

  Sonic seemed okay with that, he took hours to fall asleep, but he did eventually. I tucked him in and went to bed.

  I guess now I have a hedgehog to take care of. I'll be sure to take good care of him, just until his memory returns...

  But... I guess I have to prepare for the worst too. He won't be able to live alone if his memory never comes back. I just hope I can commit to taking care of such a little cutie.

~~~

4/17/2020