When Kurt wasn't with his friends, he was with his mommy. They continued to have sing-offs and dance parties; and it was still something they shared together and with no one else. Each morning, when she dropped him off at school, Kurt still kissed her goodbye, even when the other little boys stopped and said it was gross. Kurt loved his mommy; she had been his very first best friend, even before Blaine and Shelby.

At bedtime, Kurt slowly began to take over for Mommy, reading the stories. He loved to read. He'd open a book, and suddenly, he was in a whole different world. He'd be on the streets of London (even though he didn't really know where that was), or climbing trees in the jungle, or flying on a magic carpet. He read to Mommy every night, and his Daddy too, when he'd get home early from the garage. By the time he reached third grade, Kurt didn't need help reading anymore; knew all the words in the books he read.

His class had just been let out for recess, and he wasn't doing anything against the rules, so Kurt was really confused when he saw Mr. Donnell walking quickly towards him from across the playground. Kurt was about to question him when he noticed his teachers face. His expression looked serious, but not angry. Unsure of himself, Kurt waited for his teacher to speak.

"Kurt. I'm going to need you to come with me." The teacher did not wait for Kurt to reply or question him, but placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and guided him back towards the classrooms.

But they passed the classroom.

"Kurt, something has happened..." He looked down at the boy with sorry eyes as they walked. "And you're going to be leaving school early today" he said, holding open the door to the office. "Mrs. Anderson is here to pick you up."

Kurt was confused. Sure, Mrs. Anderson had picked him up plenty of times before, but it was always after school, not during. And Mom had always reminded him the day of. As Kurt walked into the office, he couldn't remember his mother telling him anything about Mrs. Anderson, or getting picked up early.

"But, Mr. Donnell, why? I mean, my mom didn't sa-"

And if Kurt was confused before, he was absolutely befuddled now. Because Mr. Donnell was right. There was Blaine and Shelby's mom sitting by the fake plant in the front of the office. She looked up when the door shut behind them, and Kurt saw her eyes were swollen and pink.

"What?" Kurt didn't know what was going on. Why was Mrs. Anderson crying?

She got up and met them half way and as soon as she was close enough, she bent down on her knees, making herself eye-level with Kurt. She sniffed, and grabbed Kurt's confused little face with two gentle palms. "Kurt, honey," she said, new tears forming in her already wet eyes. "Oh, Kurt. It's going to be okay."

What was going to be okay? She hugged him as he wondered this aloud.

"Oh, Kurt," she didn't let go of her embrace. "Kurt, it's your mom."

His stomach dropped.

"Wh, what? What about her?" What about his mom? What about his heroine, the perfect mother who never let anything bad happen to him? What about his mother had caused her best friend, his best friends mother, to show up here crying? What about her?

Mrs. Anderson backed away from the hug, but kept one hand gently on his arm while she used the other to wipe her tears. She met his gaze.

She shuddered. "There.. there's been an accident." She waited a second, then repeated herself, as if to make sure Kurt heard her correctly. "Kurt, there was an accident. You're mom was in an accident. And we're going to the hospital."

And then Kurt blacked out.

He'd been awake the whole time. But Kurt knew this because he was told so later. The things he could remember were blurry, but sharp and clear at the same time.

He remembers being pulled out of the car. Not his car. By his mom. No, not his mom. They were going to see his mom. Here. At the hospital.

He sees her. His perfect mother, completely broken. His hero, bruised and bloody. She looks more like a mummy than his mommy.

She can't talk. Daddy said she can't talk. But he talks to her.

Mommy, Mommy. Can you hear me? Mommy? Wake up. Are you okay? Please wake up.

Nothing.

He climbs up on the bed. He tries to wrap her arm around himself. But there's wires. He can't make her hug him. He cries into her shoulder. Why won't you wake up?

Kurt doesn't understand. It looks like she's just sleeping. She can't be... She's sleeping. He can see her chest moving up and down. She's just sleeping.

Mommy. Mommy please wake up. Mommy I love you. I love you, Mommy.

He squeezes her hand three times.

Nothing.

He squeezes her hand three times.

Nothing.

He squeezes her hand again and again.

He squeezes ILoveYouILoveYouILoveYou until he can't count. Until everything feels heavy. Until everything around him goes black.