A/N
Hi guys I'm back with a new chapter. Special thanks to Lovekyman and nightmaster000 for your reviews. You were literally the reason I decided to write this now rather than work on my design assignment. So you are welcome. This chapter is a little short but I hope it'll do
Chapter 7. Dark skies hold no silver linings.
The entire world stood still for the day of her funeral. The sky was a dank grey and a small drizzle shed tears for the loss of such beauty. Things would never be the same.
Stanley Marsh stared into his mirror while he slowly buttoned his dress shirt. His eyes sore from tears and his nose leaking like a sad young child's. Behind him Kenny already suited up in black hands Stan a handkerchief and instructs him to blow his nose. Kenny kept a strong face, knowing that Stan would need someone for this day.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Kenny mentioned while fiddling with cuffs on his blazer. "This couldn't possibly be easy for you."
Stan simply smiled into the mirror and grabbed his blazer off of his bedpost. Stanley felt the sentiment rang hollow, there was no possible way he could not go. If he didn't people would think he didn't care and yet Stan also couldn't help but feel the need to buddle up in bed and drink away his troubles.
Kenny looked toward the window. "It's raining out… seems appropriate. Bleak weather for a bleak day." Kenny adjusted his tie. "Do you have an umbrella?"
Stanley nodded reaching for his tie to finish his ensemble. "It's leaning against the door downstairs. Mom is going to take us in the SUV I hope that is ok."
Kenny agreed without argument. "Well it's time to head out," Kenny pulled Stan into a side hug with one arm. "Let's go pay our respects."
The drive felt as if it took forever but when they arrived the church parking lot seemed empty only three cars sat still waiting to receive the sad funeral goers. Stan instantly picked out who the cars belonged to. And shrunk away when he realised one belonged to the Broflovski's
Kenny opened Stan's door and pulled him reluctantly from the vehicle. Together like when they approached the hospital only a few days okay the three slowly approached the church doors. Finding a seat three rows from the front the three sat down and waited for the service.
Before they knew it the church was full of well-wishers and tearful loved ones. Father Maxi stood at the podium and began to read passages from the bible. After half an hour he invited loved ones to step forward and speak.
The first was Mr Testiburger. His entire speech was spent staring at Kyle and his words full of blame. "My daughter was a figure of beauty, who loved life and loved those around her unconditionally. She was taken from us. Her death was not part of a divine plan these things were not designed by some higher being. Her life was stolen, stolen by foolishness and carelessness. I still remember the last thing she said to me. She said Dad I'm heading out I will see you in the evening. But she didn't see me. The last thing my girl saw was glass and pine trees flying past at an alarming rate. My last memory of my daughter… was a broken promise and a now more than ever deserved remark about her life choices. My last thought will be how I won't get to see her graduate. How I will never get to have that special moment as she goes off to college. How I will miss my daughter everyday with no chance of ever seeing her again. I bury my world today and with it my hopes and dreams."
Mr Testiburger sat down and was followed by Bebe who remarked about how Wendy would want her friends and family to live life to its fullest. Much of what she said was full of cliché's but it was clear that she was trying hard not to burst into tears.
Many other family members and friends stood up and said their goodbyes. And soon it was time to carry the casket out of the church.
Umbrellas were raised and the funeral goers followed slowly behind the pallbearers as the casket was walked to the cemetery. Women were in tears the men comforted. Stan and Kenny walked along at the back of the group behind a familiar but sad looking Canadian who had obviously been ditched by his brother.
Stan looked for Kyle a growing concern for his ex friend as he noticed he was no longer around. Thinking nothing of it he caught up to the group who were gathered around the freshly dug hole.
Father Maxi began committing the girl to the earth. "Lord as we commit this girl to the earth we ask that you welcome her soul into your warm embrace. We also ask that you show mercy to those left behind in the wake of her passing so that they may find the time to mourn her loss and move forward. Ashes to ashes, earth to earth, dust to dust."
Slowly family members each took a shovel full of dirt and dropped it on the coffin. And then headed back to their cars to travel back to the Testiburger house.
Stanley had been waiting by the car for his Mom who was offering condolences to Sheila and asking after her son. He looked over where Sheila was parked and noticed only Ike and Gerald were there waiting.
"Where is Kyle?" he asked turning to Kenny who was enjoying his first cigarette of the day.
"I think he is waiting over by… hmm I don't know," Kenny thought on it for a while. "Maybe all this was too overwhelming and he went home."
"Yea… maybe," Stan replied drifting off into space.
After a few more moments Sharon was finally ready to go and the three of them climbed into the car. "I'm going to go visit the Testiburgers with Sheila and Gerald. Do you boys want to come with me or are you going to head home?"
Sharon started the car then looked over to Stan waiting for a reply.
"Actually could you drop me off at the Broflovski house? I want to go check in on Kyle."
Kenny leaned forward from the back seat. "Are you sure that is good idea Stan? He probably just wants to be alone."
"I'm sure he will tell me that himself but someone has to go make sure he is okay," Stan's reply was stern but laced with concern.
Kenny was concerned. "I agree but I don't think that someone should be you."
Stan simply shook his head in disagreement and Sharon knew there was nothing either her or Kenny could say to change so she drove him there. It did not take long to get from the church to Kyle's. Sharon pulled up outside the house and both boys got out of the car.
"I'm gonna go with him Sharon. Thanks for the ride. Tell Mr and Mrs Testiburger I send my condolences."
Sharon nodded and drove off.
When Kenny turned around he saw Stan was already standing on the porch. Something was stopping him from knocking but he instead went straight for the doorknob and opened the door. Kenny was shocked that he would just do that and began jogging toward Stan to stop him.
Stan had seen something though. As soon as he opened the door he saw straight into the kitchen and saw the red puddle pooling on the floor. He bolted into the house and around the island counter to see the ginger leaning against a cupboard. Kyle had a knife in his right hand and was spilling blood out of his left. The boy was shivering with tears running down his face. He looked up at the raven who was trying to wrap a towel around his arm.
"I killed her Stan… I killed their little girl…"
"Oh my god Kyle, Kyle I need you stay with me. KENNY! Get in here!" Kenny was there in a flash just as shocked now as when he saw the car accident. "Kenny I need you to call 911. Kyle we are getting you help just hold on."
Stan pulled away the towel to see how bad it was and ended up gagging at the sight of such deep wounds running in straight lines down his wrist. A ringing began in his ears and Stan was beginning to feel like he was going to black out. He snapped out of it when he heard Kenny shout at him.
"Stan! You need to keep pressure on it. I am going to wait for the ambulance on the road."
Kyle was beginning to drift off. Stan had no idea how far away the ambulance would be so he tried his best to keep him awake. "Hey Kyle you need to stay awake. Tell me a story. Any story. Tell me about life at South Park."
In his daze of blood loss Kyle mumbled out half sentences that didn't make sense. But after a while he managed to tilt his head back up at Stan. "Why didn't you answer my letter? I… wrote you a letter… you never wrote back…"
Stan's eyes were burning from tears he sniffled and smiled at the question. "I never read the letter."
"Oh…" Kyle dropped his head. He had clearly passed out.
Kenny ran into the house with paramedics in tow. They moved Stan out of the way and began quick work trying to save the suicidal teen. After they were certain the bandage was tight enough they lifted Kyle onto a stretcher and carried him out to the ambulance.
"Is he going to be alright?" Stan asked as the driver closed the back door.
"I can't say. He's lost a lot of blood. And repairing the artery isn't going to be easy. If you like you can come up to Hell's pass and check in on him."
"Thank you," Kenny replied. The two boys watched the ambulance drive off. Kenny turned to Stan. "There isn't anything we can do now. Let's go back to your house and wait for someone to call."
It takes longer to walk to Stan's house from Kyle's now. Stan couldn't help but notice how much simpler things were when before he left.
Finally home after walking in the rain Stan climbed the stairs slowly and headed for his room. Kenny followed close behind and the two stipped out of their soaked clothes. Stan threw his clothes on floor and crashed back onto his bed in nothing but his boxers.
Kenny began picking up Stan's clothes to take them to the laundry chute. He stopped when he saw the PlayStation under Stan's bed. Kenny grabbed it out from under the bed and saw the envelope that was beneath it.
"What's this?" He asked handing it to Stan.
Stan looked at the envelope and then at the PlayStation and instantly remembered. He sighed and smiled at the same time. "It's the letter Kyle wrote me before I left."
"What does it say?"
"I don't know… I never read it. I thought I lost this," Stan stared at the envelope sadness crossed his face
Kenny took the cue. "I'm going to throw your clothes in the laundry… and then I am going to make something to eat."
Stan nodded silently still fixated on the letter. As Kenny left he opened it and began to read…
A/N
Yea right… not this chapter. The next chapter will contain the contents of the letter. Also I know this is like two sad chapters in a row but the next few chapters would feel hollow if I just skipped the funeral also the Kyle event isn't just drama for the sake of drama. As always please review and see you soon.
