Letter 17: July 19th

Do you wonder 
Why you hate? 
Are you still too weak to survive your mistakes?

(Evanescence – Sweet Sacrifice)

After the few years of living in New York, Lima seemed to them unbelievably peaceful. It continued to live at a slow measured pace, incomparable to the rush of the city. They were strolling along the familiar streets, just as they used to back in high school. Only then they kept their hands cautiously away from each other, and no rings glinted on their fingers.

Kurt could feel curious looks following them as they wandered around town. He didn't feel alarmed; of course, Lima natives didn't get to see many gay couples holding hands in the streets, but it's 2015, for crying out loud.

They reached the Lima Bean; the coffee shop seemed not to have changed much since the few weeks Kurt had spent working there as a barista. The aprons looked exactly the same as the one he used to wear.

'The usual?,' Blaine asked, smiling at Kurt as they stopped at the end of the line.

'The usual.' Kurt smiled back.

Their hands broke their grasp to take care of paying and picking up their coffee and sugar.

Once at the table, Blaine extended his hand to take Kurt's one more time.

'Do you remember this one time when we were here after I came back from Nationals in New York?,' Kurt asked, a tiny smile forming on his face.

Blaine pretended to have to think hard to recall that day.

'Was it when I first told you I loved you?,' Blaine asked, faking uncertainty.

'Bingo,' Kurt giggled.

Blaine leaned over the table to give Kurt a peck on the lips. Just a little affectionate smooch.

They managed to keep up the happy romantic mood for another full minute of longing gazes, when a highly embarrassed barista came up to their table and cleared his throat to get their attention.

'Yes?,' Kurt asked, lifting his eyes at the lanky blond-haired fellow.

'Another customer,' he waved vaguely at a bulky balding man at a table to his right, 'complained about your… behaviour. And asked me to tell you to… behave appropriately.' He paused, a deep scarlet blush blooming on his cheeks. 'He said it was supposed to be a family-friendly place-'

Blaine's jaw dropped, Kurt's eyebrows shot up to the middle of his forehead. Both simultaneously looked in the direction indicated by the barista; the originator of the complaint was watching the situation closely.

Kurt didn't waste much time on consideration. He got up to his feet and crossed the few meters' distance briskly, stopping in front of the balding man and crossing his arms over his chest.

'Excuse me, do you have a problem with me and my husband?,' he asked, keeping his seething rage in check.

'Are you a woman to have a husband?,' responded the man.

Kurt had to bite down on his lip and dig his fingernails in his palms to keep himself civil. It was no use to lose his temper and get himself in trouble over hateful ignorance.

'You may have your narrow-minded opinions, if you like, but in some states bigots and ignorant people like you do not get to make rules anymore.'

A malicious smile crept on the man's face, as he stood up to face Kurt, who gulped, seeing exactly how much bigger the man was than himself.

'So you go and take your husband back to those queer states.'

Kurt nodded, pursing his lips.

'I will, eventually. I definitely much prefer those places where I can show affection towards the person I love and am married to, without being harassed by hateful morons.'

He turned around, heading back to their table.

'Come on, Blaine, we're leaving.'

Blaine was already prepared to go and handed Kurt his cup of coffee.

And they went out, each holding his coffee cup in one hand and his husband's hand in the other. Ignorance couldn't touch them.

Darling, darling Kurt,

Have I ever told you how grateful I am to you for giving me courage? I know that it all began with me telling you to have courage, but I don't know, if you realize how much you helped me to become braver over the years.

After the Sadie Hawkins incident I wanted to stay off the radar, keep a low profile and hide from everyone who could hurt me. I was a complete coward who pretended to be tough, because there was no way of going back into the closet. But, you, honey, you taught me to embrace who I was and not be afraid. You taught me to be strong and fight the ignorance and hate with civility, always taking the high road.

Without you, I could never be who I am now. I really believe you made me a better man in some way.

And I'm glad that no matter how we were harassed, we always had each other's backs, showing those bullies they couldn't get to us.

I guess there's nothing that could ruin a love like ours.

I love you,

Blaine.

A knock on the door jerked Kurt out of his reverie. He stumbled to his feet and jumped over the stacks of old photographs to get to the door.

'You could have let yourself in,' he said, turning away from the door and making way for Rachel to get in.

'And hello to you, too.'

She scanned the living room floor with her gaze, surprised. Kurt seemed to be doing better and better with each passing week, but she was still concerned and kept on checking on her best friend. There was no way of telling if the hundreds of smiling Kurts and Blaines in the pictures scattered all over the floor were a good or a bad sign.

'Are you like- tidying up or something?,' she asked pointing the photographs.

Kurt waved his hand dismissively.

'No, I was just reminiscing.' He smiled at her, before leaping to a small stack of pictures by the sofa. 'Oh, look what I found!'

He flicked through the photos until he got to the one he had in mind, and passed it to Rachel.

'Our junior prom! I didn't even remember this photo was taken, with me in that crown!'

Kurt, Blaine and Rachel's faces filled the entire frame, smiling widely, as they all pointed their fingers at the headdress resting on Kurt's perfectly coiffed hair.

Rachel looked up at Kurt, her eyes shining with tears despite the beaming smile her lips arched into.

'Hey, what's wrong?,' Kurt asked, seeing a lonesome drop falling slowly from the corner of her eye.

She shook her head, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand.

'Nothing, Kurtie. I'm just happy you're back.'

She wrapped her arms tightly around him in a hug. No explanations were necessary.