It had just been a normal day for Kurt Hummel, who had finished a long day at the diner and eagerly changed into some more comfortable clothes as he sat at the kitchen table, joining Rachel. Santana was out with Dani, and wouldn't be home till a bit later. The two were enjoying some light conversation when Kurt's phone rang. "Oh, it's my Dad," he said, answering it.
"Hey Dad!" Kurt said. "Long time no talk," he joked.
Burt's voice sounded distant and far away. "Kurt, are you sitting down?"
Kurt's eyes darted to Rachel. "I am, what's going on?"
"Is Rachel with you?" Burt asked.
"She is," Kurt said, starting to get worried. "Why, Dad? What's up?"
"Kurt, can you put me on speakerphone? There's something that I need to tell both of you."
Kurt and Rachel looked at each other, puzzled, as Kurt mouthed "speakerphone" to her. She nodded.
"Okay, Dad, you're on speakerphone. Can you tell us what's going on please? You sound horrible."
Burt cleared his throat. "There was an accident, you two."
Kurt felt himself starting to shake, as he and Rachel grabbed eachother's hands.
"Who was it?" Rachel asked.
There was a pause, as Burt struggled to contain himself. "It's Finn."
Rachel covered her mouth in shock, as Kurt said, "But that's not possible- I just talked to him last night. What happened? When did it happen? Is he okay?"
"Buddy, Finn was driving and making a left turn when another car was speeding towards him. It was an instant collision. He.. he didn't make it." Burt said, choked up. "It happened this morning."
Kurt looked wide-eyed at Rachel, who was already starting to tear up. He kept hold of her hand and squeezed it. This wasn't real. This couldn't be real. His brother couldn't be gone.
"Are you sure it was him though, Dad? There are lots of cars like him on the road."
"Carol and I went to identify the body, Kurt. It was Finn. The police said it happened so fast, there was no pain."
Goosebumps ran all over Kurt's body. "Oh, God," he whispered, closing his eyes. "Dad, I'll be on the plane tomorrow to Lima. Please give Carol a hug from me. I love you."
"Love you too, Kurt," Burt said, hanging up the phone. "Text me tomorrow when you get to the airport."
Rachel and Kurt looked at each other, as Kurt hung up the phone. Both stood up from the kitchen table and immediately went into each other's arms. Rachel was crying, but Kurt was just empty.
Kurt rocked Rachel back and forth, wordlessly. Although Finn and Rachel had broken up months ago, there was a love there that Rachel thought would last forever.
An hour had passed and Rachel was curled up in a blanket, drinking tea. Santana hadn't arrived yet. Kurt hated to break up the first date between Santana and Dani, but there was no other option. He dialed her number.
"Santana? You need to come home, right now. There's something important I need to tell you."
"Hummel, what's so important that you needed to ruin my date?" Santana asked, as she entered their loft. She stopped, as she looked at the two, still sitting at the table. "What's wrong? Kurt, why are you so white? And Rachel, what's with the tears?"
"Sit down please, Sanatana," Kurt said calmly, numbly, as he pulled out a chair for her.
"What's going on?" Santana asked, as she looked at Rachel.
"My dad phoned me an hour ago," Kurt said. "Finn was in a car accident this morning."
"He's okay though, right?" Santana asked. "I mean, Finn's a tough as a rock. He can survive anything."
Rachel let out a sob, as Kurt answered quietly, "He died on impact."
Santana shuddered as she put her forehead on the table, tears starting to flow. Kurt and Rachel came around the table to hug her, as all three sat there for what seemed like forever, holding each other.
Night approached quickly, as each were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Rachel, who hadn't really stopped crying, announced she was going to bed.
"Are you okay to be by yourself?" Kurt asked. Rachel kissed his cheek. "I need to be by myself," she said. "I love you two."
Santana went over to give her a long hug. "We love you, too. Call us if you need anything."
Rachel nodded and shut the door. The other two roommates sat quietly on the couch.
"I haven't cried yet," Kurt said. "It's been six hours since I've found out my brother died and I not a single tear. Isn't that messed up?"
"I think everyone grieves in a different way, Kurt," Santana said. "Right now, I'm just feeling so angry."
Kurt looked at her. "Angry?"
"I was such a bitch to him, Kurt. Not all the time- and luckily not lately- but I was so rude to him. I even slapped him."
Kurt let out a smile. "I remember," he said.
"Anyways," Santana said. "I'm angry at myself, that I wasn't nicer. And I'm angry at him for leaving."
With those words, a lump was formed in Kurt's throat. Finn had left, and he wasn't ever going to come back. Santana looked at him sideways. "Oh, Kurt-"
Kurt shook his head and tried to will the tears away, but they fell rapidly and without warning. The thought of life without Finn- if it was this hard after a few hours, what was the rest of his life going to be like?"
Santana moved closer to him, with his head on her shoulder. "Let it out, it's okay."
With his friend by his side, Kurt cried.