AN: This chapter is a special one, taking place 7 years into the future; Cyrus is 21 years old. It was inspired by recent events. I would also like to add a dedication to this chapter. I am dedicating this chapter to Joshua Rush so that the message of it may speak to him. After this chapter, I will go back to posting every Sunday in the current timeline.

I do not own anything recognizable.

Chapter 3

-2026-

Cyrus woke up in his dorm room bed on Saturday morning. He woke up to a surprising Tweet from his favorite actor.

This wasn't just an actor to Cyrus, though. This was someone a few years younger than he was, by the name of Jared Rush, who had become an inspiration to many. He was deeply connected with Cyrus's struggle in coming out, but only years later.

When Cyrus was young, he believed he was different for being gay because, the truth is, he never really saw himself in pop culture. There were a bunch of TV shows that represented gay characters as just that – gay. That was it. That was their entire personality. But Mr. Rush's character was in a groundbreaking show that aired on a television programming network so deeply connected to Cyrus's past and childhood, and that character was different than the other gay tropes. He wasn't just gay, he was human. He was a real, living, breathing person with so many complex layers along with strengths and insecurities that you might expect to find in anyone else. Cyrus believed that this represented him.

Sure, this character had a storyline based around his sexuality, but it wasn't his whole thing. Cyrus was glad to see someone on TV going through these struggles in what he considered to be a very real way. The show represented the character coming to grips with his own sexuality, coming out, and even developing and acting on crushes, all while living a wholesome life that was not always entirely dependent on that one part of himself. Of course, this had been attempted before in television and film, but never before had it felt so organic and realistic. The show spoke to many other issues of diversity, too, but this particular storyline really spoke to Cyrus.

The program was relatively new, and Cyrus hadn't discovered it until he was 20 years old. Even though it was a show targeted for kids and younger teens, the message and the representation spoke to him. Finally, he was offered the chance to look back on those years of his life in a positive way that truly represented his experiences. There were some differences, of course; not everyone's story is the same. But it was the notion of portraying diversity in the way it actually exists, the solace that Cyrus was able to take in the story itself and what it meant to him, and the recognition by someone that he was just human and that his unique struggles didn't make him fundamentally different than anyone else. It reminded him of what Buffy had said to him when he first came out, "You've always been weird, but you're no different." He actually felt that someone with power and validity as a public figure was telling him that, and that was one of the greatest feelings he could have had.

Cyrus became what some people might consider to be too invested in this show for a 20-year-old. But he didn't care. The story spoke to him, and that's what mattered.

The surprising tweet that Cyrus found that morning was Mr. Rush tweeting his own coming out as bisexual. For as long as Cyrus had known of this actor, he always assumed he was straight. Of course, that was Cyrus's own society-influenced implicit bias towards heteronormativity kicking in, but it just never occurred to him that someone who was so much of an influence on his life – politically and culturally, for that matter – not only portrayed a character that had something in common with him, but actually did have something in common. Cyrus was aware that bisexuality and homosexuality were not the same thing, but he still took solace in knowing that some of their struggles might have been similar. It brought Mr. Rush to an even more human level in Cyrus's eyes, which honestly just made him so much more influential.

Mr. Rush wrote about how it was ironic that while he played the networks first openly gay character and inspired so many LGBT youth to muster the courage to embrace themselves and come out, that he didn't necessarily have that courage at the time and was battling his own internal form of homophobia. He said that it was seeing how dedicated and encouraged his fans were that encouraged him to finally embrace himself for who he was and come out to the world.

This story touched Cyrus's heart in ways he never knew it could, and he wanted to act. He did the only thing he could think to do. Cyrus picked up a pen, and he started writing a letter. By the time it was finished, it read like this:

Dear Mr. Rush,

I want to say thank you for everything you have done for your fans, supporters, and so many kids in the world. You gave many of us, including myself, great strength and confidence to be who we truly are.

Your coming out was equally as inspiring as other things you have done in your career thus far. Although you probably don't want it to be a huge deal, it is. It is not a big deal because you are bi; it is a big deal because the action you took of coming out on such an influential platform probably inspired even more LGBT youth. You mention that your fans helped you develop the courage to embrace yourself and come out. What you may or may not see is that your coming out is now likely helping many more of your fans and followers develop their own courage.

Speaking for myself, I am thoroughly impressed with you as an incredible human being. You have gotten involved in so many ways in your community and nation that you believe will make a difference, and you have been an inspiration to many. I am a fan, yes, but that is not my only view of you. I have a view of you that exceeds the amount of respect I believed was possible to hold for another human being. Not just as an actor, not just as a public figure, but as a human.

You have used your platform in so many ways to benefit people in such an impressive manner at such a young age. What you have done is remarkable and deserves credit.

Many think that just taking on a role like the one you played is enough to be considered an icon, when in reality, it is just doing your job as an actor. What you did, however, was that you embraced every part of the story and gave your best effort to connect with a community of people that too often hurts because of societal "norms," stereotyping, and shaming. You stood up, and you continue to stand up to those who have hostile intentions toward the LGBT community when others were too afraid or too tired to do so. And because of all of those things, this community is ready to welcome you with open arms.

Finally, as a message to you from me – and probably many others – be who you are, and don't let anyone stand in your way. I don't know where you are in your journey; each individual's story is unique. If you ever struggle to accept something about yourself – for any reason, really – remember how much you have done for so many people. If you ever feel down, remember that you have whole communities of people that will rally to bring you up. Your story, as the general public knows it, is an amazing one that shows a unique aspect of LGBT culture and how we call upon each other to inspire each other. Continue to build your already incredible legacy.

You have become an icon who holds a permanent place in many of our hearts. For that, on behalf of every life you have touched and every community you have inspired, I want to say thank you.

With great respect and sincerity,

Cyrus Goodman

AN: Hey guys, hope you enjoyed! I have two requests at the end of this. One: spread this as far as you can; I would normally never push anyone to share my stories, but this is one that I think can be particular powerful if shared with the right people (you probably know who I'm talking about). Two: if you are going to attempt to share this story with Joshua Rush, do not do it as a fan trying to get his attention; please do it as a gesture of deep gratitude, as this is what this frame story is meant to be.

I will release another chapter in the present timeline on Sunday. Thank you to all the readers who remain invested in the story, and I look forward to uploading more content soon!