Work Text:
It has been over 40 years since the tragic death of Shelley Marsh, a 13 year old girl who's life was taken when she was burned down inside her father's farm alongside the farm itself.
Stan Marsh, her younger brother was the cause of it. His mother shortly after took her own life away due to her death.
There was a person who couldn't get over it.
His name is Kevin McCormick, and also previously Shelley's boyfriend, who she loved deeply.
They would always go to school alongside each other, he would always come by and visit her whenever he had the chance to and she would always be there for whenever he was having a rough time.
But after her death, Kevin thought that everything around him was meaningless. Everything was so empty without her.
If only he could've prevented all of this.
If only he knew that all of this happened.
But it was already too late.
Now, being almost 53 and aswell as being a depressed alcoholic with nothing left in his life, the only thing he thought could cheer him up a bit was to give Shelley a quick visit alongside his sister.
And here they were, standing upon Shelley's casket, and a picture of her placed right next to it.
Karen watched as Kevin slowly placed his left hand on the casket.
"Hey there Shells, it's been quite a while since my last visit, don't you agree?" He said with his slurred, alcohol-filled voice. Karen was standing right next to him, unsure of what to say. The only thing she let out after some seconds of silence was a small sob.
"I just wanted to tell you that I miss you too much that it's basically became an unhealthy habit of mine. I wish I could be by your side now. I've been having a tough time without you here, especially after my brother's death." He barely spat out, his voice sounded hoarse already. He looked like he was about to burst out crying but was desperately holding it back in.
Karen absolutely didn't hesitate though, she started crying a lot and couldn't keep control herself so she went somewhere slightly far from Shelley's casket to cry- and also gave Kevin a moment with just himself and Shelley.
He saw her running away and going somewhere else to cry but didn't do anything about it and just let her.
He was trying to convince himself that everything was his fault despite knowing that it wasn't, but he didn't know what else to do.
So he got down to his knees and started to mourn. He couldn't hold it in anymore either, the pain he felt in his stomach hurt, and he started to feel light-headed.
"God fucking dammit Shells, what I have became is ridiculous- and it's just because you're not with me.
You meant -and still mean- the world to me. I feel fucking awful for not being there when all of this happened. I know I could've saved you if I just-"
He stopped there.
He didn't know how to continue that sentence.
He knew that he couldn't save her even if he risked his life to.
Kevin started to cry again, head in arms as he was resting them in Shelley's cold casket.
After a while, Karen came back, feeling slightly better. She asked Kevin if he was ready to leave since it was getting kind of late, and he told her that he'll leave in about 5 minutes.
He had to take some time to himself before leaving again. Karen had no complaints and she patted her arm in his back and went somewhere to sit and wait for him.