By the time Kenny came to the room was dark, lit only by the glow of medical machines and light shining in from the hallway through the slightly cracked door.
The room was empty.
No parents. No siblings. Not even Butters.
He was alone, scared, and in a lot of pain.
He wanted to just stand up and walk out of the room to find out what was going on, but his legs were too weak to move.
Feeling defeated, he just closed his eyes and tried to relax for the longest time.
The same nurse from earlier eventually walked into the room to check on him.
Kenny opened his eyes as she approached.
"Hey, kiddo," she spoke softly, "You did a good job. You've been sleeping for quite a while…,"
"Y-you said I'd feel better…," Kenny spoke with a frustrated tone, clearly in a great deal of pain.
His spiking vital signs clearly reflected his feeling.
"It hurts?" She asked in a somewhat guilty tone, recalling her earlier promise to the boy.
He responded only with a whine as tears rolled down his cheeks.
The nurse retrieved a syringe and injected it into his I.V. line.
"Just hang in there, Kenny… This should start working pretty fast and you'll feel better - for real this time."
"You lied to me…," Kenny looked at her.
Before she could reply, Kenny continued, "And n-nobody is here… Why isn't anyone here…? W-Why am I here alone…?"
"You want me to sit with you for a while?" She asked, comfortingly.
Kenny nodded.
After a few moments of silence Kenny inquired about his family, "Wh-Where's my mom and my brother and my sister…? Where's my dad…?"
The nurse looked at him very seriously, "You know why you're here, right?"
"Y-Yeah…," Kenny stuttered.
"Your dad was arrested after the incident…"
"Mom…?"
"The police determined she had no part in hurting you directly - she tried to stop your dad - but she was deemed unfit to care for your brother and sister right now. She's attending a mandatory drug and alcohol rehab to get things back together so she can take care of you and your siblings."
Kenny's heart sank.
"W-What about Karen and Kevin, then?"
He already knew the answer.
"Your brother and sister are in temporary foster care until your mom gets better…"
"Why aren't they h-here…?" Kenny asked in confusion.
She sighed, "I don't know… You'd think it'd be better for you and them if they were both here right now… But the state works in stupid ways sometimes."
Kenny's head was become heavier by the second as the potent painkiller began to take effect.
He had no choice but to shut his eyes and fall back asleep.
"Kenny…," Butters whispered.
"Kenny…?" He gently moved the other boy's shoulder.
As Kenny slowly opened his eyes, the bright fluorescent lights made his head throb.
"Ugh…," he moaned, feeling sick.
"Sorry to wake you up, dude," Stan said regretfully.
"We just wanted to see how you were feeling?" Kyle spoke.
"T-Terrible…," Kenny felt woozy from the cocktail of drugs coursing through his veins.
The group frowned.
"Everybody's worried you, Kenny," Butter's spoke as he searched through his backpack, "The whole c-class spent art period today making you this card… Everyone signed it," he showed it to Kenny and sat it on the stand beside the bed.
"Thanks…"
At least he knew some people cared about him.
"So…," Kyle spoke, "Stan and Butters and I were talking at lunch about what could maybe make you feel better," he grabbed a wrapped box that was hidden by the bed, "And we decided presents always make someone feel better," he smiled as he gently sat the box on Kenny's lap.
"We all chipped in for it," Stan announced.
Kenny just stared at the box trying to remember the last time he got a present. Maybe his birthday two or three years ago, he decided.
"You gonna open it or just look at the box?" Kyle laughed.
Kenny carefully tore at the wrapping to to reveal a large, red remote control truck.
"Wow," Kenny was clearly taken back, "Thanks, guys!" He actually sounded a little excited.
"We knew you would like it - we all have one," Butters said.
"Th-this thing cost like $30… You guys didn't have to do that…"
"If ten bucks a piece makes you feel better, then it was worth it, dude," Stan smiled.
Kenny smiled, "Th-this thing is cool, guys…," he inspected his new toy.
"Now you just need to get better so we can all go out and play with them," Kyle spoke.
The group talked for around an hour.
Stan looked at the clock, "I better get going, Kenny. I still haven't been home since school got out."
"I need to go too," Kyle agreed.
"We'll be back to see you, dude. Hope you feel better soon," both Stan and Kyle bid their farewells before leaving the hospital.
After Stan and Kyle had left the room, Butters spoke, "I have something else I want to give you, Ken."
Kenny looked on as Butters pulled something out of his backpack: a medium sized stuffed animal, modeled after a brown Labrador Retriever.
He handed the gift to Kenny.
"I figured he'd maybe keep you company while we're at school or something…," Butters looked at his feet, almost embarrassed.
"What's his name…?"
"What?" Butters was taken off guard.
"D-Does he have a name…?"
Butters looked at the tag he took off the toy, "It says his name is Hunter…"
"Hunter… That's a cool name…," he smiled, "Th-thanks, Butters… I like him; I've always wanted a puppy…," Kenny held the stuffed animal tight.
"Wul… I better be going too… Mom's gonna have dinner ready by five and I'll get grounded if I'm late…," Butters was cut off by Kenny.
"Why did you lie when I asked you a-about my parents and Karen and Kevin?"
"I - I just didn't want to upset you anymore, Kenny… I'm sorry…," Butters sounded remorseful.
"It's 'kay," Kenny knew he only had the best intentions.
"S-So where am I gonna go when I get better, then…? Foster care again…?" Kenny asked, as if Butters had the answer.
"I'm not s-sure, Ken… All that matters right now is you need to get better… I just want my happy best friend back…"
The boys hugged before Butters walked to the door, "I'll come back to see you every single day for as long as you're in here… And that's a promise I won't break... Even if I get grounded."