Chapter XVII

Bittersweet Ending

HDM: Okay, I will make a shout out to all my lovely reviewers after the chapter. Thank you SO much for all your support and keeping me motivated to write. Please PLEASE review and tell me your thoughts about the ending or the whole story line in general...and critique it...don't try to make me feel good with only good things...and note that this WILL drag until the end because I won't deliberately tell you what happens until the end.

This is told in 3rd POV limited (ho ho I'm smart)

"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece" Ludwig Erhard

South Park, no one really thought of it much of a town. Deep in the state of Colorado, many of us probably would never have heard of it. For such a small and insignificant town, so many things have happened. From hot celebrities to the Satan vs. Jesus fight, South Park has been through it all. Sin thrives in this small town and virtue is never abundant. Never, though, has South Park has experienced this...

More and more, children and teenagers are succumbed to several, if not all, severe mental diseases. Most common diseases are clinical depression and schizophrenia. They had even some of the rarest disease, like multiple personality disorder, sprout up time and time again. Adults don't know how to control their children and South Park doesn't want to dirty its hands with the diseased children and teens. So, they built an asylum just for these kids. It was called Broken Heads Insanity House and if you went there you never left. It was like jail without bail; you stayed there because 'you were a danger to society'. They practiced illegal methods that were centuries old and mistreated the patients.

Some of the lucky few did not go to the BHIH. Some, like Kyle Brofloski, had loving parents who wanted to help their children. They had their medications shipped from different cities and had other methods to control their diseases.

Kyle knew the dangerous practices performed at the BHIH. So, when he got a little older Kyle soon became the spokesperson for all those mistreated in hospitals all over the country. He hosted rallies and conventions, trying to get the population to know what's going on. He's trying to enlighten the ignorant to show that they are not disgusting animals but people who need and want help.

Some teens wised up and left South Park and go to someplace that will try to help. Most went to Denver but some made the distance to go to California and find someone to help. They had no money, where would they go? Some just became hobos and ate out of trash cans. Some did find help but it did little or nothing at all. Some acted like little Kyle Brofloski missionaries and spread the word, trying to get more people on board. They had little success.

Kenny McCormick was one of the many who left without even finishing high school in South Park. He took what little he had and all the money he could scrounge up and left for California. Unlike the others, he had a motivation to find help...because his was the worst of all. He finally found a clinic on the outskirts of Los Angeles that brought him in. The best thing that it was free...it was the few clinics that actually helped without taking anything out of your pocket.

He boarded in and they treated him like a human being. He started to tell his story and people listened. Everyone started talking about the boy who's conquering Insanity. He was home schooled and got his high school degree with surprisingly good grades. He started to talk more about his story. He wrote a book, explaining his story. He called it Living Among the Dead; his character, Christopher O'Brian, deals with what Kenny went through. It got published and more and more people started sending mail to Kenny, telling him their story.

Some were quite motivational:

Dear Kenny, I just read your book and I'm so happy someone who actually has a problem is voicing his side of the story. My daughter suffers from Post Traumatic Anxiety and everyone tells me that "She's just going through a phase." and "All kids today see someone shot, just because her brother was shot in front of her doesn't make 'traumatize' her." or my favorite "She's just too emotional." Don't let anyone denounce you or tell you that you're wrong.

Sincerely, Sharon Mackey

Some were not so pleasant:

Dear Kenny, I read Living Among the Dead the other day and I'm quite disturbed at your concept of Insanity. It seems you've took tasted this tonic with not fully drank it. You take some of the most clichéd plots and unthinkable consequences. Maybe you should do some research on what real cruelty is and how you're just a baby without his bottle.

Sincerely, Anonymous

Some were just creepy:

Kenny, You seem like a really hottt dizeesed guy! I just want you to fuck my braiynz out and suck on my pearsed tits aaaall night long! Sure, I just did some speed before righting this and my speling izn't too goood but I mak it up with greaat sXe! Give me a kall kutie!

Your Sexxy Angel, Anna Leigh

Some were crackpots that just took a shot of cocaine writing their garbage but the majority was either people who had a disease or friend and family who told him about a loved one with a disease. He got their permission and made another book The Minds of the Deranged. Kenny became very popular and everyone in the United States, England and parts of Europe had either copy of his books. He had his own website, everyone wanted to talk to him. He was the icon of the deranged.

The reason he was so popular was because he wasn't a doctor or someone studying the field. He has a disease and he knows what's going on. He's very charismatic and he can make you feel a hundred times better. He was very popular with the ladies; they fall for the blond hair, blue eyes, and insane guy. To say he was easy on the eyes was an understatement in itself. He looked like someone who should be in acting, not someone who had a mental disorder.

Years have past and all over people have heard about the popularity of Kenny McCormick and the controversial rallies of Kyle Brofloski. Even though the two are very popular and took strides for the same cause, they never saw each other. Kenny didn't want to see Kyle until he kept his promise...to get well. Although he has fewer encounters with figments and Qualik, he is still sick. He can hear laughing in his sleep...until he stopped sleeping at all. He keeps his mind busy with other things...you know the whole idle hands proverb thing.

It has been years since Kenny set foot in South Park. He ponders if some of the kids are still there...did they get out or were they trapped. He wonders if Stan ever became some amazing person who's married to Wendy and is living the perfect life. He muses if Cartman got lipo-suction or is still morbidly obese. He thinks most about Kyle, if he's alright or if he still remembered the promise. Did he actually wait for me or found someone else? Thinking about him with another could make Kenny's stomach churn.

'Did he even remember? I know that he probably has a lot to do. I heard that he's really gathering the masses. I guess they see him as this handsome kid who wants to help. God, I saw him once or twice on the news. He still looks perfect...his hair and eyes and everything are still the same. I want to see him so bad...I want to embrace him and kiss him passionately. I just...can't do it right now. I have to keep my promise...'

A promise...

Fifteen years later

Kenny looks at the sign 'You are now entering South Park'. He slowly drives down the small street in his sedan. He looks around to see nothing has really changed. The only main difference is the giant stone building on the outskirts of town. Kenny shook his head, trying to get rid of memories. He makes a left and continues down the road for a little while.

He is at the prime age of thirty. He aged well; he has not a wrinkle or sign of aging. His blonde hair looks healthier since his teen years after he discovered something called a 'haircut'. His cerulean blue eyes shine in the sun. He wears a nice business shirt and tie...well he always wore that nowadays. He has a piece of paper with directions on the dashboard.

He sees where his old house to the right. He parks his car and gets out slowly. He walks up to the house and looks at it. There are old planks boarding one of the windows while the other is half shattered. The screen is almost off the hinges; it sways in the wind making an old and creaky noise. There is crap all over the dead lawn like a tire and beer bottles. Kenny knocks on the dilapidated door. He waits a couple seconds before he sees the knob turning slowly.

He sees a man that looks like he's in his late twenties. The man has greasy and uncombed blonde hair and has a five o'clock shadow. His gut sticks out of his stained white T-shirt. His blue eyes are dulled by too much liquor. "What do you want?" the man growled. Kenny cleared his throat and pushed back a wisp of hair. "I'm looking for Kevin McCormick..." he began.

"Kenny?"

"Hey Kevin..."

"You left and never came back...why are you hear?"

Kenny looks away, possibly evading the question. "I'm here for a friend..." he mutters. Kevin shuffles a bit, looking a bit annoyed and confused. "So, you couldn't see your dear little brother or were you too busy famous?" Kevin spat. Kenny looks at him and gave the man an unfriendly glare. Kevin, his only sibling, but he means so little to him. Never sent out someone to find him or even tried to communicate after his popularity increased.

"I didn't forget about you Kevin; you didn't want anything to do with me, remember?"

"Maybe because I didn't want to be associated with a drugged up loser who's all popular because he's sick in the head!"

"I haven't touched any drugs since I was a kid..."

"Yeah, well I'm not surprised if that's the reason why you're a head case! I remember, Kenny, you would hide drugs under my bed! You would grind weed in Mom's flour sifter! You hid your cocaine in sugar containers! Heroine was in the medication cabinet! You had more liquor than a Wine and Spirits store! Now, you're 'all cleaned up and have a disease' campaign!"

"I didn't hide that from anyone, Kevin, and you know it! My book, if you can even read, says how I was a drug addict and I did go through rehab! They did do tests and my 'problem' wasn't affected by the drugs! They said it's been there since I was young and the only thing the drugs did was prevent it from activating! Don't make me look like the hypocrite here, I've sent money back and took care of you and Mom because you won't get off welfare! You don't want to see your brother get out of this hellhole, something you're too lazy to do!"

The two stop talking by a sound of someone shrieking terribly. Kevin goes inside the house and Kenny reluctantly followed. Horrible smells of liquor and human waste comes out of the house. The old furniture smells like cat piss and the carpets are stained. The lighting is dim and the only thing on is a television with Jerry Springer on. Kenny looks to see someone on the beaten up couch along with Kevin. Kenny's eyes soften and tears swell. "Mom?" he croaks.

His mother was a pitiful sight. Her hair was unkempt and she only has a night gown poorly covering herself. She has grays mixed in with her faded auburn hair and patches of bald spots. Her eyes are half closed; her face has age spots and wrinkles. She is plump and looks like she's never left her seat on the couch. There's a respirator next to her with a mask. "Who is this handsome boy, Kevin?" she whimpers. Kevin looks up at Kenny. "She's not feeling well...you should leave."

Kenny comes closer to his mother. "Mom, it's me, Kenny. I know I left you but I wanted to get better. You sent letters to me, remember? You said that you're not doing well financially so I sent money. Remember, Mom, it's me..." Kenny tells her. His mother just looks at him and gives him a silly grin. "You remind me of my older boy, Kenny. Not the most straight forward kid...did some bad stuff but he meant well." she goes off.

"Mom! It's me!"

"Long ago, I think something happened to him. It happened after my husband died. Kevin told me that Kenny killed him and then ran away but I know better...he would never leave because of that. My Kenny suffered and I couldn't be a good mother for him."

"MOM! You were a good mother! Please, it's me, your son!"

Kevin gets up and pushes Kenny out the door. "Get out and stop harassing my mother!" he snaps. He shoves Kenny out the door and slams the door. Kenny could hear more screaming from the window and things getting knocked over. He wipes his eyes and walkes back to his car.

Later...

Kenny parks the car and walks through a park. He can distinctly see the BHIH from here. He curses under his breath and keeps walking. He sees a group of people walking ahead of him. They look back at him and some did a double take. He could hear them whispering amongst themselves.

"That's Kenny McCormick, he's on the news."

"He used to live here...didn't he get crushed by an elevator?"

"No, he died by having a potato being replaced with his heart."

There were many other comments but he stop listening in. He let out a chuckle, that's what most people care about...not about your achievements but your failures.

He enters the cemetery that's connected to the park. He looks at all the tombstones with a sense of curiosity. Most are eroded by the weather and some you can't even see the names. What is it like, to be remembered by just a piece of granite? Do you think that they're upset that their only sign that they were once alive can't even show his or her name?

Some people walk up to him and give him a look. "Kenny?" the one asks. "Yeah?" Kenny responds. "Dude, it's Craig! How are you?" the man replies with a hug. Kenny, both surprised and confused, returned the hug and look at him. He looks the same with some obvious changes. "Yeah, here for the viewing?" he asks stupidly. Kenny quirked an eyebrow but he gives a nod to the childhood companion. "I hear ya, he was a good guy. We argued a lot but he was a good guy."

Craig and Stan used to fight over Wendy. Kyle and Craig never really got along. I had a crush on Craig. Petty little things...

Kenny meets up with other childhood companions. Token is a lawyer, Tweek made a new energy drink that's a hot seller, and Butters became an underwear model. Some, though, didn't have a good life. Bebe dropped out of high school because she got a kid, and Craig has been on and off the wagon for years making him keep a job almost impossible.

He runs into Wendy among a group of women. She gives Kenny a hug and starts telling him about her relationship with Stan. "Stan and I broke up senior year after I cheated on him with some college guy. I always regretted that...but this is so terrible" Kenny looks at her.

"Why are you talking about this now?" he asks her. "I don't know...I guess it's just I always knew he didn't want anything to do with me but I pushed it...why did he die, Kenny?"

Stan cheated on Wendy with a girl named Sheena. Wendy had a crush on Kyle. Kyle loved me.

Suddenly, he felt so alone. Everyone already said their regards but Kenny could not go near the grave. It was like something was pulling him from the grave. He looked out into the horizon, maybe trying to figure out why he's even here. Why did he come back, this place only gets him hurt. It's like picking an old and bloody scab.

Days of laughing...never a dull moment. Where is the sun?

'I remember...I told Kyle not to wait up for me anymore. I told him to move on and find someone who's not a screw up. I told him to go hook up with Stan and be a big, happy, gay family. I think I was drunk...or just really pissed. Never at him, but at myself. I didn't want to take a promise that I don't believe I could keep. I told Stan to take care of him but he told me that Kyle only wants me. Me...'

"Kenny?"

He snaps out of it to see a woman staring at her. She had long wavy hair the colour of a mahogany red. Her eyes were a shining apple green. She wore a dress suit that fitted her perfectly. Fifteen long years and he's never seen her till today. Sure, letters and emails were okay but not the same. He looks at her and gives her a smile. "Hello, Reigh..." She walks over, she doesn't crack a smile. "Why are you here?" he asked her. "Well I was his friend...am I allowed to give my regards for my friend?"

Kyle and Reighlie went to the same synagogue. Stan and Reighlie met at the bar. I almost took her virginity.

"You look good..." he tells her under his breath. She smiles a bit but doesn't say a word. "I've read your books...you're an amazing writer." she compliments. Kenny cracks a smile. "No, I just got time on my hands. So, did you find yourself in L.A?" he asks. "I'm a photographer...not the big bucks but it pays the rent." she replies.

It seems like time stood still. The two are silent. They were more than friends but never officially lovers. They went out with other people with no strings attached. They were together when one of the two had a bad day. They shared their life stories at the bar or over a cigarette break. She told him to go out with Kyle and be happy. He didn't want her to leave. She left thinking at least he had Kyle. They both ended up alone.

"Want to have coffee sometime? You know, to catch up on lost time...perhaps?" Reighlie offers. Kenny wipes his face with his sleeve and sighs. "What like old times? Sorry but I'm not screwing up another life..." Kenny snaps. Reigh doesn't react at all; Kenny looks away. "You didn't screw up Kyle's life...you can only screw up your own..." she replies."I don't need your wisdom...I need to get better..." he coldly replied.

Kenny looks at the grave and shuddered. It's so fresh, so clean, so new compared to the rest. There lays his friend, someone he cared for so deeply. Why did he come? He didn't keep his promise...he would only come back if he got better...he's nowhere close. Why does anyone want to revisit love ones when they've departed. There's someone standing there, someone who's been avoiding Kenny all day it seems. Kenny tries to say something but the person quickly runs off.

"It's sad...one thing leads to another...until you realize that someone's gone." Reigh comments. He bites down on his lower lip, trying not to cry. She puts her hand on his shoulder and he shrugs it off. "Please, Kenny, you can't act like this...it's not healthy." she tells him. "What are you, a therapist?" he snarls. "Non-practicing..." she replies coldly.

"You don't know how I'm feeling! You did this when we were teenagers and you're doing it now! I don't need help; I just need to be left alone!"

"I never pushed you Kenny, you pushed everyone away! You never would accept help and if I asked you what's wrong you would kiss me...like you're avoiding your problems with sex!"

"I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT!"

He takes a step back and looked around for an escape. He collapses on the ground and pounds the earth. She tries to raise him up but he forces himself to stay. "Kenny, I know about your illness but you don't need to shut people out to protect them! It's not healthy and you need to accept that they're people who WILL help you if you give them a chance!"

He stares at her but doesn't get up. He wants to but it's too difficult. "Do you want to go get coffee?" he asks her under her breath. She smiles and helps him up. He gets up and he follows Reighlie toward the others. "Wait...I need to give my respects..." he says to her. He walks to the grave and bows his head.

"Hey, how are you? It's good to see you...and yet I wish it didn't come down to this. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in so long. I didn't forget to email you though, if that matters. I'm sorry for everything...for screwing up and you trying to help. You always wanted to help me...you always helped everyone. Everyone thought you were so happy when we were kids and now look...God...how did this happen? I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be okay...I'm going to fight this thing and I'm going to be okay. I...just wanted you to know that..."

Here Lies Kyle Brofloski

1989-2020

Wonderful Son, Good Friend

"An Angel Among the Demons"

END OF INSANITY BLEEDS

HDM: Shout outs! I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and here are the reviewers that stuck with this or just left really affecting reviews:

Faery Goddyss: Thank you for your advice and reviews, I'm glad that you read this (I'm sorry that I killed him...please forgive me :pouts:)

Fishbone: Sucked you into this even when you don't watch sp...love ya arielle (omg I gave your name haha)

Leela's Tears: loved your reviews, hope you were satisfied

total misanthrope: Glad you liked my story and I hope you like BB

Again, tell me what you think, check out my homepage for a link to my deviant thingy, I'll have south park pictures up tonight