The Evermore Dissociate(Creek) - Chapter 95: Chapter 95

The grass that Kenny walked upon— or rather, limped—swayed against the gentle breeze of wind. The sun was high in the sky, and birds flew above his head in a controlled flock. It was a beautiful summers day, with seniors finding their seats that laid in rows, set out before the small stage placed in the middle of the field. All around was the voices of excitement, passed between students, along with the proud encouragements from parents, seated on the bleachers, a few feet away.
It was Graduation day. Possibly one of the most important days of their lives. A milestone that Kenny himself, wasn't going to experience, first hand. He wasn't Graduating. It was something he'd accepted, a long time ago. Even before his accident, Kenny had been far behind on his studies, something he now wished he'd worked harder on. He always lacked the motivation for school, and now, he was paying for it. Still, he showed up today to show support for his friends who were lucky enough to be today's ceremony.
Whilst idly watching his peers ahead, Kenny pulled his earphones out from his pocket, before sticking them in. The volume had been unknowingly set to the maximum, so when the music finally started, it caused the blonde to jump slightly as he rushed to turn it down. He was half way across the field when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, but before he could turn to see who the intruder was, Eric's face came into view.
The plumper of the two's mouth was moving, but with the music playing in Kenny's ear, he couldn't understand a word he was saying. Then, appearing beside her boyfriend, was Heidi, wearing a smile that stole away Eric's attention. Kenny was yet to remove his earphones, but when Eric's hand slipped away from his shoulder and the couple began to walk away, removing them seemed useless.
Today must've been a good day for Eric, because after a moment, he turned back to Kenny, saluting him as a small smile crept up on his face. It was unusual to see him expressing anything other than a glare, so understandably, Kenny only blinked in return. But as fast as Eric had came, he was turning around and joining his classmates by the stage.
Many people passed Kenny's view as he uncomfortably walked over to the bleachers. The first to catch his eye, was his two closest friends, Kyle and Stan. The pair of them were standing off at the side, examining their caps as Butter's rambled on beside them. People Kenny hadn't paid any attention to since fourth grade, were suddenly falling into view, making him realise how much they'd grown up over time. Once, Timmy Burch had been a good friend of Kenny's. Now, they barely spare a glance for each other. Kenny watches from afar as Timmy laughs with his friends. They're all happy, as someone should be on their Graduation day.
With a prolonged exhale, Kenny finds somewhere to sit, a few seats away from the overbearing parents. He looks down at his dirty shoes as the music fills his ears, calming him instantly. Since his accident, he'd been experiencing periods of sudden anxiety, something he figured he'd overcome within time. When his eyes lifted, and he looked ahead, a mess of blonde hair sucked in Kenny's attention. It was Tweek, looking overly nervous as he rushed across the field, late and flustered. His pale hands held the cap on his head in place as he practically ran to join his classmates.
Kenny found himself watching his skittish friend. He watched as he awkwardly scooted through the crowd to where Craig was sitting beside Heidi Turner, looking bored out of his mind. At least, he was—up until Tweek's sudden appearance lead to him sitting up a little straighter. Without meaning to, a pang of jealousy prickled at Kenny's nerves. Not because of how close Craig and Tweek were, but because of how little he and Tweek had spoken since their shared accident. They'd drifted apart, which was the last thing Kenny had wanted. Still, he figured it was for the best, considering Tweek would soon be going away, just like everyone else.
Tapping his shoe against the solid platform, Kenny pulled his earphones away once he spotted their principal repeatedly patting his finger against the microphone. The ceremony was now commencing, and soon enough, the seniors would be officially Graduates.
For some reason, Kenny couldn't focus on a word that was being said. Instead, he absently watched as the people he'd grown up with, headed to the stage to collect their diploma. He clapped when everyone else did, distantly recalled odd memories with those he noticed, but when it came to his friends, Kenny zoned back to life. He listened to every word, cheered louder than any parent could, and clapped so hard that the palms of his hands became sore.
Kenny himself, may not be Graduating, but the people he cared about the most, were. He was one of their biggest supporters, proud, just like any of the parents were, with the smile he wore, being the most sincere smile of the year.
There was few things in life that could truly make Kenny McCormick happy. Since a kid, he'd learned that the world was full of hatred and unfairness. He'd lived a live no child should live. He'd gone days without a meal, witnessed many fights, all because money in his household was scarce. Kenny didn't want money to have the same control over his live that it had since birth, but unfortunately, he didn't have that privilege. So, for something to make him feel genuinely content, such as today, was mentally lifting for Kenny.
Before his eyes, he witnessed an event that not only he, but everyone present, would remember for the rest of their lives. It was also the end of an era, and though Kenny was glad to finally be finished with High School, the real world slightly terrified him. There was two ways to think about the upcoming future. Kenny could ponder about his loss of friends, feel down about rarely seeing the people he'd grown up with. Or, he could think about the connections he'll have along the way. He could be open to the new experiences that awaits him in time to come.
The wind blows through Kenny's hair in a single rush. More clapping fades into the clear skies, and as Kenny inhales a deep breath, watching so many caps being tossed towards the sky, he decides to look forward to his future. Despite being told there was a possibility of his legs never fully healing, they were—slowly, but surely. Not only was he physically healing, but also, mentally. The nightmares weren't so reoccurring. They weren't so often, or haunting, which could only mean that one day, Kenny would be free from the night of his accident.