Creek - a new beginning

Visit

Craig falls asleep next to Tweek, he sleeps until morning when more visitors come.

"Hey. Craig, dude. Are you doing okay?" Kenny gently nudges Craig awake.

Craig opens his eyes and sees Kenny and Butters standing next to him.

"Oh, hey, sorry I must've fallen asleep. Are you here to see Tweek?"

"Yea, Butters wanted to read this book to him, you're welcome to stay around while he reads if you want. You look like you need to relax."

Craig decides to stay with Tweek while Butters reads the story to him. Butters reads the Princess Bride. After a couple of hours, they choose to take a break.

"We are going to the ice cream shop today. You should join us. You only ever get out when you're working or visiting Tweek." Kenny offers

Craig slowly gets up, the same blank stare he has had for the past 3 months never leaving his face. "Okay. It wouldn't hurt." Craig turns to Tweek and kisses his forehead, "I'll see you tomorrow, babe."

Kenny and Butters look at each other. They are becoming increasingly worried about Craig. The group leaves the hospital and drives to the ice cream shop.

Butters and Craig sit at a table while Kenny orders their ice cream. Butters taps his hands together anxiously before speaking. "Hey, Craig? Are you doing okay? The dark circles under your eyes keep getting bigger... You need to get more sleep."

"I can't sleep very well, I probably won't get a good night's sleep for a while..." 

Kenny returns with the ice cream. Pistachio for Butters, strawberry for Kenny, and vanilla for Craig. Craig pokes his spoon into his ice cream.

"Craig? Is something wrong? You seem to have something on your mind, more than usual."

Craig rubs his eyes and takes a deep breath, "They want to let Tweek go..."

Kenny furrows his brow, "You don't mean..."

"Yeah, they said I should have the plug pulled soon. He... He is only getting worse, and they think his body will start failing any day now..."

"God..."

Butters eyes start to water, "Is his time up, for real?"

"It seems like it. With his parents on trial, I'm the one who has to make the medical decisions for him. I can't make this choice though. I don't know how they expect me to choose whether or not to let him die or let him suffer. I'm just so tired..."

Kenny reaches over to Craig. He pats his back gently, "Craig, I think you should stay home all day tomorrow and sleep. Or at least try. I can cover for you at work, and me and Butters will stop by and read to him tomorrow. So take a day off. You haven't had one in forever."

Craig slowly nods, he is too tired to argue or even think. "I'll do that then. Promise you'll go see him? Make sure he has company?"

"We promise."

-

Craig gets home and almost sets alarm before remembering he was supposed to stay home all day. He doesn't even plug his phone in, he sees no reason for using it anymore. He lays down on his king-sized bed. His room is a mess of clothes and fast food containers. He slips into sleep.