Santana knew that she was at a crossroads – the rumours were no longer rumours around the hall of McKinley High. They were about to be broadcast on Ohio TV. She had to do something – accept it. Accept herself. Tell her parents. Really take a chance on Brittany, hoping she truly loved her back.

But what if it didn’t end up all sunshine and rainbows? What if Brittany didn’t really love her? What if she found someone else? What if her parents threw her out of the house.

Santana couldn’t breathe. It was all happening too fast. She had no one to turn to, and the feeling of despair was turning to depression. She wasn’t seeing a way out of this mess that Finn was responsible for. Sure, she called him fat, but what he did rocked the security of her 17 year old world.

Mercedez found Santana in the girls’ room, huddled in stall, sobbing. It was all she could do to get her to sing. Santana looked at her like she had three heads – who cared about singing? Her life was over.

She didn’t even remember Mercedez getting her to the dressing room. She put on her little black dress, looking at Britt smiling that smile that she wanted to see forever. She followed that beautiful smile on to the stage.

She was numb. She knew her part. The dance moves came easily, but the lyrics sliced through her, each line a razor through her skin.

She, she ain’t real,
She ain’t gonna be able to love you like I will,
She is a stranger,
You and I have history,
Or don’t you remember?
Sure, she’s got it all,
But, baby, is that really what you want?

Santana looked to the future and saw Brittany far from her … she saw Britt moving on, happy…. She paused and looked at Mercedez. Did she know what she was singing? Did she know what a punch to the gut those lyrics were to her?

Mercedez continued, Santana feeling the blood draining from her …
Brittany made her heart melt.
But now Santana’s going to cold to core.
Now rumour has it Britt didn’t have her love anymore….

Santana moved to the front to sing, but the lyrics ripped out of her, torn from her heart and soul…

Don’t forget me, I beg
I remember you said,
“Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.”

It was liking ripping the bandage off. There was nothing left to protect her. It was time to look straight in the face of what she feared.

I heard that you’re settled down
That you found a girl and you’re married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn’t give to you.

Brittany would move on – without her. Britt would find a girl to make her happy. She deserved it. She deserved to love and be loved by someone who had the courage to stand up to the Finns and Coaches of the world and proudly say, “YES – I AM A LESBIAN.” Britt would find that happiness…without Santana.

I wish nothing but the best for you too, Brittany
Don’t forget me, I beg
I remember you said,
“Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.”

This was what Santana was left with. Hurt. The hurt of being outed. The hurt of public humiliation. The hurt of her parents finding out.

And, ultimately, the hurt of losing Brittany.