Another Way Out (2)

Along a dark and sad pathway, Kenny drags himself to an old cemetery. Looking at all the crooked, ragged, lonely tombstones, he picks up a stone and sits with his brother. He sits down on the damp ground and examines the stone. Turning it on each side, looking for some kind of flaw. after doing this for quite some time, he stops. Staring down at the tombstone by him. Here lies David Cassidy, son of Mary and Peter Cassidy, Brother of Kenneth Cassidy . He was only about 9 years old when he died. Only 9. Kenneth was about two years older than him. 1

6 years ago They were playing outside in the front yard. David wanted to be batman but Kenneth was already batman so David had to be robin again. So they were running up a hill. David told Kenneth to wait up for him. he told him that he couldn't run fast and that he was getting tired. But Kenny kept going and going, up and up "The Big Hill" by "The Road" ken and David knew that they shouldn't have been over there but they were so bored and so curious. 2

"Kenny! help me, i can't get up, it's too hard." 3

Kenneth ignored him for a while but got annoyed when he kept pleading. So, he turned back around and tried to pull him up. when he finally got him up he told him to look down on the other side.4

"Ever wonder if the grass is really greener on the other side?" asked ken.5

David was excited and didn't really understand what he was talking about, he just wanted to fly, fly like batman. He stood at the edge of the hill and yelled, "I am Batman!" he turned around and said to ken, "I want to fly now ken, you're always batman, now it's my turn, you be Robin. Ok?" He turned back to the edge and moved a little to jump. He hesitated, Ken could see that he was determined to show him that he wasn't a baby. He could see that the color in his cheeks were completely gone.6

"if I don't fly Kenny, will you catch me before I fall?"7

Kenneth replied, "Just jump you big baby. or do you need me to push you over a little?" 8

David's eye's twinkled with excitement and fear.9

"I'm not a baby, I can do it myself because, I am batman! I can Fly! I am invincible!"10

And so, he jumped. Kenneth saw him go back three steps and run up to the edge and jump off. he stood there for a long time, letting the strong wind blow his hair into his face. He watched the last bit of David’s golden blonde hair flutter until he could see him no more. then he walked over to the edge slowly, clutching his sweaty palms. as he walked, he could hear David say "will you catch me before I fall?" over and over again in his head. He stopped at the end and looked down. There, lying on the ground with his head resting on the road, was David. He could see a long line of blood start to travel down the road. his Golden hair was now red. He saw his legs twisted in horrifying positions. He couldn't see his face, but he could see his arms stretched out as if he still was trying to fly, even as he laid there, Motionless.11

Kenneth ran, and ran, and ran, and never stopped until he found his mother's arms wrapped around him. keeping him safe. He told her the whole story as best as he could. When his dad heard this, he'll never for get how he looked, he grabbed his wife and all three of them ran to the car and drove around to the big hill, drove on to the other side. His mom ran out and screamed at the top of her lungs.12

"My baby! oh my baby! nooo!"13

she grabbed him and cradled him in her arms. His dad stood near and walked around back and forth erratically, holding his head in his hands, Crying. Though he wasn't close enough, Kenny could see that David's head was crushed. He got out of the car and walked around to the other side of the hill and climbed up. when he was at the top he sat down, he picked up David's batman action figure that lied on the ground just like how David was lying on the ground. He  tried to cry, but  couldn't. he looked over at his parents and at his dead brother. He rocked back and forth and remembered what David  said earlier,  “ If I don't fly Kenny, will you catch me before I fall... Catch me before I fall...Catch me before I fall...Catch me before I fall...I am Invincible. I am Batman....I can Fly...Catch me before I fall etc... And Kenny rocked back and forth crying without sound.14

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That was 6 years ago. and the pain still attacks him. Now at the age of 17, he finds himself tying a towel around his neck,like a cape,like batman. He finds himself in david's room,on his bed,talking to the air as if he were there, he finds himself here, at david's last resting spot.16

He picks at the grass and pulls out a marker and writes on david's tombstone: 17

You can Fly,Batman.18

He left and walked around The Big Hill and went in his car and drove off, to go home, to what was left. The Clouds began to cry now.19

Rainwater snaked its way down the window glass: a little shot or finger, top left to bottom right, dashing along and then stopping, trembling; then leaping forward, darting from drop to drop. safe harbors, running until they were too heavy to stop, off the window and down onto the road. Kenny gave them names, like racehorses. He felt a pleasant sadness when they died on the pavement. He can hear them whisper, “will you catch me before I fall?”20