Inspired by these 2 stories:
“Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” by Jamil Jan Kochai |The New Yorker

Fiction: “Americca” by Aimee Bender 

And I was inspired by true events in my life, to do with me having a failed talking-romantic stage with a boy I loved from my old highschool days.

I picked up the video game controller and turned on my TV. And plugged in my old Sega Genesis. The TV screen flashes on with the big title: “SONIC THE HEDGEHOG." I clicked the start button and began playing as Sonic. I like playing Sonic to pass the time because it goes by faster with him running around.

The more I played. The more I kept on passing through the game’s quick acts of Green Hill Zone. Act 1. Act 2. Act 3.

Finally, I made it to the second zone. Marble Zone. Act 1. Act 2. I couldn’t stop running fast. Cycling through it. No matter what I did. I felt like I was in such a rush to want to beat this whole level. I kept on dying, slipping in the fire-like lava.

Anger rushed through my veins. No worries, it’s just a game. I can beat this. I have played this game so many times. It’s no big deal. I have to be patient.

Act 3 of Marble Zone.
Act 3 of Marble Zone.
Act 3 of Marble Zone.
Act 3 of Marble Zone.

The more I kept seeing those repeating words about me restarting Marble Zone again, the more I felt angrier than before. The irritating background music of Marble Zone even kept getting on my nerves. I felt very annoyed by this point.

Why do I keep getting stuck on this stupid level now? Why couldn’t I beat it this time? I looked at the top right of my screen. I only have 1 life left. I had already lost most of mine. I can still feel my anger. I tried to calm myself down by taking a deep breath. And going back to the game. So I can concentrate on it.

Act 3 of Marble Zone.

I quickly ran. And jumped down into the underground marble zone. I just had to be fast enough to beat the lava trail that would eventually start chasing after me later. I don’t know what came over me? But I stopped Sonic’s running movements on the screen. And I really listened to Marble Zone’s background music.

“Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh.. Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh…”

I really thought deep into Sonic’s character for the first time. No matter what, Sonic is always running. Into different zones. Away from danger. Or if it’s even to help his friends.

“DUNT-DUNT-DUNT-DUNT… DUNT-DUNT-DUNT-DUNT…”

Wait. I run like him? Why am I so invested in this game, wanting to keep on running like Sonic? Wanting to continue playing this, even if I am mad at getting stuck on Marble Zone? What’s wrong with me? Why am I like this?

“Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh.. Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh…”

I shook my head and saw that Sonic was waiting patiently on my TV screen. He was tapping his foot with his red shoe, waiting for me to finish the level. He shot me an annoyed look on his face, like he was waiting for me for all of eternity.

Wait, Sonic runs? He always runs away from his friend Amy Rose, the pink hedgehog girl who has always had a crush on him. A realization struck me in the head like a flash of lightning. I’m like Sonic! I have always run away from my problems all the time. In all of my life. With me being emotionally unavailable.

Alice. I remembered a girl from my old high school days that I used to be in a talking stage with. She’s my Amy. Like, I am her Sonic. She used to give me love letters every day. But I would always ignore her, avoid her, and run away from her. Our stage of trying to become ‘friends’ or more than that ended abruptly, like finishing a zone. I did nothing to save our relationship. I didn’t try to talk to her after that, and she didn’t either. I let it all die out in an instant. I didn’t care what I was to her at the time.

I don’t know what came over me to act so foolishly? Why didn’t I see it before, after all these years? I’m so stupid. She really loved me. We could have been together, if I hadn’t ruined things.

I stopped playing Sonic. I couldn’t continue, as I was feeling heartbroken. Tears streamed down my face for the first time, as I realized how I felt about her.
Why did I have to be so cold and selfish toward her? Alice, I love you. I’m sorry; I realized it a little too late.

I looked at a gold ring that was floating next to Sonic. The music speeded up, and so did the number countdown for the game level’s timer.

A golden ring. I could have been committed to you. We could have gotten married and had a future together after high school graduation. I can’t believe I've lost you forever. I regret letting you go. I must have hurt you so much behind closed doors. I never noticed you. I always disregarded your feelings for me. I’m sorry, Alice. 

I saw the countdown reach the numbers:

0:00

I bawled my eyes out even more when Sonic died on the screen with the title playing:

GAME OVER

Realizing what I had lost.

As sad-disoriented music played in the background.