I finally got the cure for Kenny. After days of fighting against society, against the government, against anti-abortion groups, against even the Vatican... in short, against all the people who barred the legalization of stem cell research. It took me a long time, but I finally got it. I can't wait to heal my best friend and end this anguish. Stan doesn't have the courage to visit Kenny and Kyle just keeps crying just like... himself.

I ran with all my strength to finally heal Kenny, something I don't usually do in my life. Not that I can't stand running very fast, but I prefer to pretend that my true physical condition is impaired. I open the door, take one of the two stem cell injections I have in my pocket, and quickly inject the needle into my hooded friend who is sleeping.

Everything I went through to get clearance for stem cell research.

All I did to get scientists to create two stem cell injections.

All the effort I made to run to the hospital.

Everything I did to get past the nurses who tried to stop me from running.

All my faith that I put in science and medicine.

All the chips I bet on the stem cells.

All my hopes of seeing Kenny healed.

All this to see that in the end it was useless.

Time passes and there is no sign of my friend's recovery.

He still looks pained. How is this possible? The injection should take effect. According to doctors and scientists they said that recovery would be immediate. But why, God? Why isn't it working? Could it be that everything I did was... in vain?

- Eric? - A familiar voice takes the focus of my thoughts.

- Kenny – I notice that he has no hood showing all his blond hair – how are you? - I say having to hide my sadness.

- I'm pretty bad – he has a coughing fit – I don't think I'll make it past today.

- You know that the bad vase doesn't break. I imagine that tomorrow morning you will be fine.

- Let's be honest, my friend. I am... and there's nothing... you can do... to change that.

- Maybe if I talk to Jesus Christ he can heal you. If I go running I might have enough time to… - I'm interrupted when Kenny grabs my wrists.

- No Eric. Don't waste your strength with me anymore. I'm dying. I want my last seconds of life to be with my best friend - he said with difficulty.

- You know I can't settle for that – I can't hold back my tears.

- Don't cry. That sounds so gay," Kenny said, forcing a smile, but I see that he's crying too.

- I say the same thing to you.

We were both silent, enjoying the presence of each other for a while. Like Kenny has always been my best friend, although I'm always hanging out with Stan and Kyle, it's this poor blonde that I identify with the most. He - besides Butters - is the only one who calls me by my first name.

- Do you know what my biggest regret is? – he said suddenly.

- Yea?

- It was not getting to taste a busty woman.

- At least you got to know what a Play Boy is.

- Is not the same thing. At least I could fool Kyle into pretending it was my last breath.

- What did you say to him?

- "Where's Stan?"

Cartman lets out a weak laugh.

Suddenly the machines start beeping louder.

- You know my time has come - he said, breathing hard.

- Oh no. Kenny.

- I am going. Goodbye Eric my friend - said the blond boy while the device was giving a loud whistle and Kenny gives his ... last breath.

- Kenny - I shake him - wake up. Kenny. Don't play with me, Kenny. Not now, you son of a bitch. Kenny – I cry intensely like I've never cried in my life.

Not even the pain I have of not having a father is as intense as the one I'm having right now. My Best Friend. Practically my only friend. The only one who I trusted. Oh dear, WHY DID KENNY HAVE TO DIE?

I see he died with his eyes open. I wipe away his tears and gently close his eyes so I don't... hurt the blonde any more. I know you can't do this, but I don't care about that right now.

Funny that he always had the habit of hiding his face through the hood just leaving his blue eyes showing. I imagine he would be a big hit with the girls if he walked around without his hood. It's too late for that now.

I'm not that different from him. I always hide through my arrogance and my selfishness. I always pretend I'm better than everyone else, but this was just a mask to hide the sadness I feel in my life.

The sadness of not having a father.

And now the sadness of witnessing the death of my one and only best friend.

As if it were a mask.

I take off my half heart shaped necklace and put it around my friend's neck thus leaving possession of the two "Best Friends Forever" necklaces to Kenny completing the heart. I put the hood on so no one can see the sadness he had in the last seconds of his life.

Finally I leave the room and head out of the hospital trying as much as possible to hold back my tears. And worst of all, I was unable to save him. It's like I killed him. I'm worthless. What a beautiful best friend I am. I am unable to help him when he needed it most. I'm going to a pizzeria to use the second stem cell injection. When I do this I realize immediately that the pizza parlor undergoes the cloning process.

Excellent. This injection serves to clone a pizza parlor, but it's useless to save my friend's life. How ironic.

As always I will hide my sadness through my 'mask'. Which will deceive everyone and make them think I was only interested in using stem cell research to clone the pizza parlor. No one will find that behind my insensitivity, I care. Never.

THE END