With Every Broken Bone, I Swear I Lived

Kurt looks into Blaine's eyes, and Blaine looks back at him. They're both tearing up, smiling so big that their lips are about to crack. Blaine wraps his arm around Kurt's waist and Kurt leans into him as they both put their right hand forward, to join dozens of others.

They look between the grinning, tearful faces around them; old friends, new friends, a big family joined together. The room is hot in temperature but cozy and warm in atmosphere- this is home. Always have been, always will be.

Everyone crouches down and begins in unison, "aaaa…."

In that second, the entire room moves as one, "aaaa…."

With fleeting looks from one person to another, "aaaa…"

And they rise with their hands pointing towards the sky and shout, "Mazing!"

So I didn't have a lot of words for today's fic. When the lights went out on that final episode, I sat there completely shocked for several minutes, unable to articulate my thoughts in the slightest. For a long while after, I could just repeatedly type "I LOVE GLEE SO MUCH" and not much more (if you're following my tumblr, you saw that. lol).

But, I've now managed to get my brain working again, and I wanted to tell you- yes, you, lovely- a few things.

This has been a journey. No matter at what point of it you joined in, it was a journey. We had happy times and sad times and heartbreaking times and times of complete elation.

And as a chapter in this journey closes, I want you to remember that it's not ending altogether. The friends you made through the fandom, the places you got to go and the people you got to meet- even if only virtually- they're here to stay. Those emotions you've had and will keep having are all real. And all the beautiful memories we've all made with each other, they're not disappearing. Smile because it happened, lovelies. The sun is rising now, and it's a brand new day, to keep going, keep evolving, keep looking for new adventures.

And you've gotten yourself some amazing companions for those new adventures.

Take a moment to think about where you were, in your own life, just before starting to watch Glee. I bet you're a thousand miles away from that place right now. I know I am, and I find that pretty darn incredible.

This is not the end. This is the middle. You've closed one chapter; keep on reading- or writing- the next one.

Finally, I want to thank you. Wherever you are. Whatever device you're reading this on. However you look. Whatever your soul looks like. Thank you. Thank you. You are not special because you're a part of something special; that something is special because you are a part of it. You are special. Remember that, always. However deep the water gets; even when the sun isn't shining. You are special. And each day, the world is grateful to have you in it.

And I love you.

I'll see you next week, lovelies. And the week after that. And the week after that, and the week after that, and so on… ;)