Cancer.

A toxic word.

A disgusting word.

The word was an utter array of conflicting emotions: fear, sadness, worry, confusion.

Vulgar thoughts stemming in the mind of the three individuals that sat, listening as the doctor continued repeating the diagnosis.

The word triggering a paralyzing silence in the room.

Leukemia.

"H-how?" His mother's mouth gaped open, not fully understanding the words that escaped the physician's mouth.

The aging, gray-haired man tipped his glasses back, eyes not leaving the papers in his hand.

"Leukemia involves the production of abnormal white blood cells- they don't function the same as the normal cells. They keep growing and dividing and crowd out the normal white blood cells." He was trying to define it in layman terms, it was obvious.

His father spoke now, "I just don't understand how this could happen…"

"There's no exact cause, Mr. Broflovski. There's genetic and environmental factors that may play a role, but we can't pinpoint-"

His mother cut the doctor off, her red hair was stuck against the tears on her cheek. "W-what are the next steps? How do we make him better?"

The doctor sighed and flipped over the page. "I want to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. We'll work out a schedule for when he can come in for treatments."

His mother nodded. He noticed how her hand was running through his curly hair in an affectionate manner.

His dad spoke again, his voice shaky and tired. "We thought it was just the flu."

The doctor's face was understanding. "Kyle's symptoms were mild. Nevertheless, I'm glad you decided to bring him in. The earlier we catch the disease, the better the prognosis."

"And what is the prognosis, doctor?" His father's voice sounded more shrill than intended.

The doctor frowned. "It differs for everyone, but Kyle is still in the early stages of the disease. I'm optimistic that the treatments will be beneficial for him."

"I'm too young." He took the time to speak up, his voice quiet and barely heard.

His mother knelt down beside him. "What, bubbeh?"

"I'm too young." Kyle repeated. A tear rolled down his cheek.

"Leukemia can affect people of all ages-"

Kyle ignored the doctor and kept speaking. "I'm only seventeen."

His mother wrapped her arms around him, sobbing loudly. His father watched, shedding tears of his own.

"I'll give you a moment."

The doctor stepped out, leaving the family to weep as reality made an unfortunate appearance.

They were allowed to go home. Treatments were scheduled to start later that week.

The Broflovski family sat in the car, a solemn silence filling the small vehicle.

"I don't want Ike to know." Kyle spoke up from the back seat.

His mother shook her head. "We can't keep secrets, Kyle."

"Then let me tell him. By myself."

"That's fine, bubbeh."

They pulled up in the gravel driveway, Kyle stepping out not waiting for his parents. He stepped inside to see his little brother strung out on the couch, his eyes fixated on the TV in front of him.

"Hey Ike."

The twelve-year-old waved in acknowledgement.

"Can we talk?"

Ike nodded and clicked the power button on the remote, turning his attention to his older brother.

"Not here." Kyle said, gesturing upstairs.

The two boys walked up the stairs, Ike's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Kyle led the way into his bedroom and motioned for Ike to sit on the edge of his tiny twin bed.

"What's up, bro?"

Kyle felt guilty in a sense, having to disrupt his brother's innocence by sharing such a intolerable truth.

"It wasn't the flu, Ike."

The Canadian boy cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

"My illness. The fatigue, the weight loss, the pain… It wasn't the flu."

"Oh?"

Ike's face was strewn in an expression of worry, clearly anxious for Kyle to continue speaking.

"Ike, I have cancer."

The younger boy's face paled. "Kyle, if this is one of your practical jokes, it's not funny."

"It's not! It's not a joke, Ike. I'm serious. Mom, dad and I just got back from the doctor."

"So… You're going to get better right? That's what the doctors are for; they'll make you better, right?"

Kyle frowned. "Well, they're going to try…"

"But they'll try hard, right Kyle? You'll get better… You have to."

The red-headed boy shook his head. "I-I don't know…"

Ike shot up from the bed, his face red with anger and pointed his finger at his older brother in an accusing manner. "You will get better. I won't let you get any sicker than you already are. Because… I-I'm not ready to lose my brother, Kyle. You can't leave me. Not yet."

Kyle embraced the smaller boy and hugged him tight, letting the tears soak his green shirt.

"I'm not leaving you."

"Good. Because I won't let you."

Their mother chose that moment to walk in the room, the sight of her two sons crying and hugging breaking her heart. Her mascara had run down both cheeks, causing dark circles under her eyes.

"Boys, why don't we go downstairs? I'll make some dinner. Let's try to have a nice evening okay? Let's just forget about everything right now. We'll have some dinner, and then watch a movie together as a family."

Ike nodded and exited the room, not making eye contact with the other two.

"Are you coming, bubbeh?"

Kyle shook his head.

"I need to talk to Stan."

His mother smiled in understanding. "If that's what you want. I love you, bubbelah." She said, reaching out to hug her eldest son. Kyle wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. "I love you too, ma."

She turned and left the room as Kyle pulled out his phone. He swiped open the phone to reveal his previous conversation with Stan:

Kyle (1:37 pm): I'm heading off to my appointment now. I'll text you later.

Stan (1:41 pm): Good luck dude. Let me know how it goes.

Kyle's fingers hovered over the keyboard as he tried to inscribe a text to his best friend.

Kyle (4:18 pm): Hey

Stan (4:21 pm): Hey. How'd it go?

Kyle (4:22 pm): It was okay. Are you busy?

Stan (4:24 pm): No, just finishing up some homework. What's up?

Kyle (4:26 pm): Can I come over?

Stan (4:27 pm): Sure.

Kyle locked the phone screen and shoved the device in his pocket. Grabbing his sweater, he headed out the tiny bedroom and down the stairs.

"I'm going to Stan's."

Ike looked up, his face somber. "You're leaving?"

"I'll be home later, Ike. I promise."

"Don't be late, Kyle. It's a school night." His father said from his spot on the sofa.

Kyle could see his eyes were bloodshot. He had been crying again.

"I love you, son."

"I love you too, dad."

"Bye bubbeh."

Kyle smiled and shut the front door behind him as he stepped out into the chilly evening. It was only the beginning of October and yet it felt like December outside. He pulled his sweater tighter around his shoulders as his teeth chattered from the cold. Good thing Stan only lived a block away.

It wasn't very long before he found himself on the front steps of the Marsh residence. He knocked gently on the door. Almost immediately, Sharon Marsh appeared a huge grin splattered across her face.

"Kyle! What a surprise! Stan didn't tell me you were coming."

"Hello Mrs. Marsh, I hope it's not too much trouble, I just need to tell Stan something." Kyle returned the smile.

"No trouble at all! I was just making dinner. Are you hungry?"

He hadn't really eaten that day, but he also wasn't hungry. His stomach was still tied in knots due to the sickening news he had received only a few hours before.

"Oh, no thank you Mrs. Marsh, I ate before I came here." He lied.

"Well, alright. Let me know if you boys want something though! Stan's just up in his room." She stepped aside, letting Kyle pass by.

"Thank you, Mrs. Marsh."

He climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway. Stan's bedroom door was slightly ajar. Kyle lightly pushed it open to make his presence known. Stan looked up from where he was sitting on his bed, his headphones in and a chemistry textbook sprawled out across his lap.

"Kyle! I'm so glad you're here. I don't understand any of this stuff and I have a quiz tomorrow. Do you think you can help me study?"

Kyle nodded without saying anything and sat on the edge of the bed across from his best friend.

"Okay I'm really struggling with this chapter. What's the difference between a cation and an anion?"

"Cations have a positive charge, anions have a negative one."

Stan frowned and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm definitely going to fail. I don't know anything. How do you know this stuff?"

"I study."

Stan smiled. "Yeah, I think maybe a bit too much." He closed his textbook. "So what's up? Why'd you want to come over? Just to hang out? Oh! You're appointment, how was it? Did they figure out why you're so tired all the time?"

Kyle stuttered. "I-uh-y-yeah they sorta found a reason…"

"And? What did they say? Is it because you don't get enough sleep? Staying up all night studying isn't healthy. That's what it is isn't it? You're sick because you study too much." Stan was laughing to himself, but Kyle just stared down at his feet, blankly.

"Kyle?"

He looked up at the raven-haired boy, whose face was masked in concern.

"Yeah?"

"You're super quiet. Is everything okay?"

"N-not really."

"What's wrong?" Stan sounded anxious. "You can talk to me."

"The doctor… He ran some tests. And uh, w-we weren't expecting the results to be so… devastating."

"Devastating?"

"Yeah." Kyle nodded. Maybe deciding to tell Stan was a mistake. Maybe he should just go home and keep this as a family issue.

"Kyle, seriously… You're scaring me a bit-"

"It's cancer, Stan." Kyle interrupted him.

"What?"

"Cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia."

"Wait… what- what are you saying? How did this happen? You're just a fucking kid…"

"I know."

Stan places a hand on his pale forehead. "What the fu- Cancer? Are you kidding me? How can you have cancer?'

Kyle shrugged. "I don't know how it happened. The doctor said there's no exact cause… "

"What the fuck?"

"I know, Stan. I know. I was just as shocked as you were."

"I just don't understand… Why you? Aren't you already diabetic? Isn't that torture enough?"

"I guess I really drew the short straw on the whole health lottery, huh?" Kyle smirked.

Stan didn't laugh.

"So, what are they going to do? The doctors- are they going to give you some pills or something?" Stan questioned.

"I'm going to be starting chemotherapy treatments later this week. My cancer is still in the early stages so we have hope…"

"Fuck dude. I can't believe this."

"Neither can I, Stan." Tears were staring to form in his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "There's so much stuff I haven't done yet… I wanted to graduate, and go to law school… get married, have kids- But-"

"But nothing Kyle. Don't talk like that. You're still going to be able to do all that stuff."

"You don't know that, Stan. I just have so much stuff that I've wanted to do in life, and now I don't know if that can ever happen. Hell, I've never been drunk before, I've never even tried pot-"

"Then let's do it."

Kyle looked up, sharply. His brows furrowing at Stan's words. "Huh?"

"You said there's all this stuff you want to do, right? Well I say let's do it! Hell, we'll take the week off and have an adventure… A road trip! You can get all the things you want to do out of your system before you have to start treatments! We'll get drunk, and find women and have the vacation of a lifetime."

Kyle was staring at his friend with wide eyes. "Are you insane? No, seriously, are you fucking nuts, Stan?"

"Yes, Kyle, I am serious! You deserve this. You deserve to have fun."

It would be exciting… And he wouldn't be having much fun after chemo started… Wait was he actually considering this?

"What about school?"

"Fuck school! Fuck grades! Fuck first period English with Mr. Browning! I've got a car, Kenny's got a fake and I say we blow this joint!"

"Wait- Kenny?"

"Yeah! Kenny's always the life of the party! Plus he'll be able to hook us up with some booze and weed."

Kyla shot up from his spot on the bed. "I-I can't believe I'm actually thinking of doing this."

Stan looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please, Kyle. Let's just go. I want one more memorable week with my best friend."

Kyle pursed his lips shut, giving the trip one last thought before agreeing.

"Okay."

"Okay!?" Stan shouted in assignment.

"Okay. Let's go."

Stan fist pounded the open air. "Yes! Woohoo!"

Kyle held his hand up to silence Stan. "But-"

"But?"

"I don't want Kenny to know about the cancer, at least not yet anyways. I'm not ready for him to know yet."

Stan nodded in agreement. "Okay we'll just make something up to him. Now, go home pack your shit and come back here later tonight. I'm going to call Kenny. We'll have to sneak out so as to not wake up our parents. The sooner we get on the road the better." He explained, ushering Kyle out the door.

Before leaving, Kyle turned around to face his friend. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"No! It's a horrible idea! We'll probably all be dead before the end of the week, but I say fuck cancer and let's do this."

Kyle smiled in return.

"Yeah… Fuck Cancer."