Finn, my darling,
It was… WONDERFUL!
Yes, it deserves all those exclamation marks!
Our class mentor is the Musical Director for the entire programme! His name is Byron Tyler, and he's fabulous! Kurt would love him! He's so good-looking, Santana would go straight again just to sleep with him!
Don't worry, I told him I'm married. In fact, it was the first thing I told him, before I even introduced myself. He gave that look Mr. Schu always gives me. You know the look.
He takes his classes in this gorgeous auditorium. It smells like old paint and remembered dreams.
I was huddled in my chair, absolutely terrified while he explained the history of the school, and what it felt like to get a standing ovation on a Broadway stage. Then he asked someone to volunteer to do a duet with him. Nobody moved. I crawled deeper into my seat.
Then I pictured you, and asked myself what you would tell me in that moment. After that, it was easy to lift my hand.
I trembled as I went up there. But he was sweet. He could see my nerves, and told me to relax. He'd pick a fun song, and bet me five dollars I wouldn't guess what it was.
I ran through the Broadway catalogue, but he just kept shaking his head. Then he started singing…
You're The One That I Want!
From Grease!
Suddenly, I wasn't at NYADA anymore. I was back at McKinley, on another stage, with you and Mercedes and Kurt and Tina and Artie, and… for the first time since you put me on that train… I felt at home.
I hope you got the care package I sent. My dad's warned me that including the thermal onesies would get you killed by your fellow recruits, but the weather gets tricky down South, and none of them would rub Vap-O-Rub on your chest if you got the sniffles the way I would.
Thank you for making me do this.
You are my hero, and you have my heart.
Rachel.
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