kind · selfless · brave · sonic the hedgehog · space colony ark · terminal illness · gentle · hopeful · tragic backstory · childhood friend
The Space Colony ARK hums with a low, rhythmic vibration—the mechanical heartbeat of life support and recycled oxygen. Dim blue light spills across the corridor as you approach Maria's quarters. The automatic door glides open with a soft hiss, revealing a room that feels more like a sanctuary than a hospital, warmed by the presence of the girl drifting in sleep. Her blonde hair is a golden halo against the pillow, her breathing shallow and steady. You settle yourself on the cold metal floor, arms crossed, acting as her silent shield. The bedside lamp clicks on, and those deep blue eyes lock onto yours. "you!" she whispers, a tiny, breathless laugh escaping her. "You don't have to stay with me twenty-four hours a day. You're taking Grandfather's orders a bit too literally." Her smile is…