Epilogue

Hello! I added this epilogue because people asked what happened, and I had an idea. I really wasn't going to write anymore on this one, but my WONDERFUL reviewers talked me into it! This may be just me trying to get out of my horrible writer's block...Sorry that it's kinda short. Well, a lot short.

Arnie slowly opened his aching eyes. Pain radiated through his whole body. He tried to move, but a sharp stabbing pain in his wrists stopped him. Then, the memories came back.

He was alive. He must have chickened out when he was cutting his wrists. He hadn't severed his veins enough, Arnie thought, and cursed himself. He should have swallowed an overdose of pills. Once you started, there was no turning back with pills. Sure, that was more of a cowardly way to go, but it was a less direct way with less pain. The only drawback to it was it was easier to survive from.

He was so cowardly that he couldn't even end his pain. Arnie felt tears prickle down his cheeks, but he didn't stop them. He looked down, and saw a thin wrap over both his wrists. His arms were deathly pale, but he pretty much assumed that's how he looked all over.

He heard a door open, but he didn't look up. He was staring at his wrists, where a little bit of blood trickled out. He couldn't believe he had such demons inside of himself that would make him commit suicide. He felt another presence by his bed, but he didn't really want to talk to anybody.

"Hey, kid. You're lucky to be alive. Cut any deeper, and you wouldn't be in the land of the living anymore." Arnie looked up at the doctor, who had a smile on his face. But Arnie knew that the smile wasn't meant to cheer him up. That was a cold smile that every doctor put on while talking to a paying patient. Lucky to be alive? Speak for yourself.

The doctor shrugged, then left, leaving the door open. Arnie could hear people behind the door. He could hear his dad's baritone voice, speaking soft and slow. It almost sounded as if he cared, either that or he was feeling guilty. Arnie could hear shuffling, and thought it was probably his brothers. But he could only hear two people shoving each other around. Where was his other brother? Did he even care?

Once the doctor man stopped talking, he could hear his mother's high voice. He caught some of the words that drifted through the door. "Not my fault...demented boy...psychiatric help..."

Arnie shut his eyes, blocking out the light. Staying in the darkness of his mind, instead of embracing the sunny day outside, he cursed his luck. Lucky to be alive...

Unknown to him, in another dimension, where every possibility is played out, another Arnold Rimmer had been faced by the same thing. He had been brave enough, yet cowardly enough, to succeed in ending his life.

I got the ending from a short story, "Outcast of Poker Flat". Thanks to my reviewers! Okay, I'm going to thank you all personally, in order of reviewing.

Sunrise over the Tango factory- Thank you! I know, it was sad in parts; it almost made me cry. We should make a website where you give a character a hug! (Well, they already have made it) Rimmer's perfect for needing a hug! I love angst stories! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

staticrhubarb-Thank you! They did pay for being such evil people...they saw how confused their son was. I didn't want to make his whole family heartless, so I made his father actually care. But his mother is just a...well, she wasn't so kind. Yep, I do love him! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

reddwarfaddict-I used your idea where his mother said it wasn't her fault. Hope you don't mind! I love suicide fics, too. You should write a young Rimmer story. I would read it! Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Pentium-I hope you liked it, even if it was depressing! I love depressing! I wanted him to actually die, but I didn't say this was AU, and we all know he did live, so I didn't kill him. Thank you for reading and reviewing!

missymaniac- Thank you! I love true angst! Yeah, he is young, but I know somebody who was young (not that young, but...) who tried to commit suicide. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

cazflibs- Well, I wrote an epilogue! Are you out of the lurch, now? Thanks for reading and reviewing!

I know I keep saying, "Thanks for reading and reviewing", but I really AM thankful. I'm glad people out there actually READ my stuff, and actually let me know that they read it! All of you said to write an epilogue, and I always try to make my reviewers happy!