April 28, 2013, 4:55 a.m.
Heavy Coat (Previously 418): Years Later
T - Words: 1,009 - Last Updated: Apr 28, 2013 Story: Complete - Chapters: 6/6 - Created: Apr 24, 2013 - Updated: Apr 28, 2013 113 0 0 0 0
Years later Kurt's sitting in his office and sighs heavily. Another atrocity. Another evil done by a child ruined by choices. He looks out of the open doorway where his youngest, almost three years old, looks up at him and grins. She runs over and climbs into his lap, her curly hair falling over her forehead. He smiles at her and cuddles her close. She'll never feel abandoned, angry at the world, filled with hate or lost. He kisses her forehead and she giggles and leaps down, running into another room to find her older brother.
Kurt smiles and looks at his computer, at the blinking line waiting for him to form words for the legion of fans who read his blog about life, love, fashion, entertainment and those all important things that make everything worth it. He thinks for a moment and start writing, lost to the world around him, to the slamming of the door, to the shouts of their children greeting their father, to the press of lips against his neck and the quiet laugh as food goes cold.
Blaine sits in the recording studio, writing down lyrics when his phone rings. He presses answer and holds the phone to his ear, smiling as he hears his friend's voice. "Hey, did you read Kurt's article yet?"
"Not yet," He answers. "He was pretty absorbed last night so I left him to it after he didn't even notice dinner and he was gone to the design house before I got up."
Sam sighs on the other end good-naturedly. "Well read it, it's getting huge reviews, those fans of his are going crazy."
Blaine says goodbye and hangs up, looking at his lyrics. His own work can wait for a few minutes. He glances down at his ring then opens up the bookmark for Kurt's blog saved on his browser.
Heavy Coats by Kurt Hummel
This week I opened my paper to see a heart-breaking sight, school kids not that much older than my eldest child running for their lives from their school. A supposedly safe place where learning, knowledge, passion and desires come to mingle. Our children go there to make friends, learn about the world and themselves and become the people they are supposed to be. These safe places where we know things could go wrong but live in the ideal, it will never happen to me. We think we won't get that call, but this week many families in Montana did.
What many of you, my readers, people I've come to think of as friends and those who read my blog and buy from my lines do not know is, I do know what some of these people have gone through.
Years ago, back when I was a freshman in college, I left my boyfriend back in Ohio where he was a senior in the school I'd just graduated from. I assumed he was safe. Things happened as life changes us but I always loved him and wanted him to be safe there in that little corner of nowhere we came from. One day I went home to see my parents and him, and my heart almost stopped.
My father whose battle and recovery I've mentioned here too turned on the TV to something I never thought I'd see. My former school in chaos. Students had been evacuated and were giving reports of who it was, who was still in the school and victims.
My friends from Glee Club, including my boyfriend were still inside but then my brave, handsome, wonderful, crazy boyfriend managed to escape, being followed by the girl who was the shooter.
He ran all the way to my house with a bloody leg. The bullet had luckily only split the skin and if you ask him today he'll show you the scar proudly.
The town, students and families recovered. Five people lost their lives that day, some I knew, all my boyfriend knew. The shooter was a young girl called Becky to whom life hadn't been kind. Choices made by her, society and who or whatever else combined to make the painful events of that day happen.
As an effect of what happened, people were kinder to each other, they grew together through their shared experience and the living proof that that kind of hell can come to anywhere and anyone. The kids became stronger in their dreams, determined to be what they wanted more than ever. They treasured each other and every moment. Many I know have achieved every dream and live with the thought of those five people in their hearts, with the thought of every person who doesn't get to see their dreams and give all, so that they can be proud.
My boyfriend was valedictorian of his senior class. He gave a speech about unity and success and love, he brought tears to everyone's eyes, including mine. He was intent on living out his dreams and to become a singer, actor and touch the lives of millions, just to make them smile as he told me years ago. He and the Glee Club then sang Who You'd Be Today, a song by Kenny Chesney where the title of this article is from. The line goes 'I wear the pain like a heavy coat / I feel you everywhere I go' and he does, but he uses it to make him stronger.
My brave, foolish boyfriend who ran from a school thrown into hell all the way into my arms that day so many years ago achieved every single dream, though he still has a few things to tick off his list.
That man is Blaine Anderson, Grammy winner, Emmy winner, Academy nominee, platinum selling recording artist, father of three beautiful children, my hero and the man who holds my heart.
KAH
Blaine wiped his eyes and picked up his phone, pressing speed dial one and whispered as soon as it was picked up and a familiar voice answered. "You're my hero too, Kurt."