Could I Just Say Something?
Over a year-and-a-half ago, I decided to start writing Fanfiction again. It had been YEARS since I had written ANYTHING (fanfiction or otherwise). With fanfiction specifically, I hadn’t written one since 2004!
It was June 12, 2016. I had resigned from my job 2 weeks prior due to medical complications. The Pulse shooting happened less than 30 minutes away from my house. I had been to the same hospital many of the victims were taken to for my medical crud.
That entire day, I was glued to the tv. Hoping, praying, that none of my previous coworkers were in that place during the insident. (While I, myself, am not a part of the LGBTQ community, a whole bunch of my good friends from work were).
It was weird in Orlando after that day. Everyone was in horrible shock for (at least) 2 months. The city, the theme parks, everything-were still technically running...but you could tell from the look on everyone’s faces that something was not the same. Something tragic had happened here. There was just this...horrific cloud of fear covering the city.
People cried. (I certainly did)
People protected. That jerky Westburro Baptist Church (you know the one), decided to protest at the victim’s funerals. Volunteers wore these MASSIVE angel costumes with sheets draping down to block out the jerks from the funeral procession going down the street.
People helped. Even Megacon that year had a silent auction of artwork for sale from DC...where all the proceeds were going to go to the victim’s families.
People wore rainbows (whether they were LGBTQ or not). People supported each other.
In the midst of it all, us folk from Orlando were hanging on by a thread. The rest of the US was falling into utter chaos. Politicians were being rude. Public shootings were becoming common. There were riots, and hate, and arguing, and storms. There were cars hitting pedestrians, and the presidential election, and cursing, and (for some strange reason) Natzis? Seriously? WTF?!?!? Where did those creeps even come from?!?
Anyway, throughout all this mess...I was desperately trying to figure out how I could help.
I couldn’t donate blood or volunteer...I was (and still am), fatigued and sick from all the medical crud. I felt incredibly useless as I watched the world tear apart in front of my eyes.
I wanted to make people smile and laugh again. I wanted to help make the chaotic world a little bit more tolerable.
So I began to write (specifically), Steven Universe fanfiction.
“Live and Let Lion” was the first piece I posted. It was immediately followed by over 20 additional Steven Universe fics I wrote over the course of the last (almost) two years.
Reviews slowly began to trickle in. I ended up finding fellow writers, new online friends, people that were greatful that my work made them laugh or smile. It meant the world to me! Even if they were silly, dumb, Steven Universe stories- I was still helping people get through the horrific news that would be blasted from our television screens every day.
Now, with the second year anniversary of the Pulse shooting coming up in a couple of months- I just wanted to thank the people of the SU community.
Writers told me I should continue when I felt like stopping.
Reviewers told me how much my stories were helping them when I had my doubts.
The entire Steven Universe fan community was kind and empathetic. They helped me through my medical stress, my anxiety, my fears and doubts. I am STILL writing because of you guys! I am (hopefully) STILL making people smile because of you guys!
I guess what I’m trying to say is...Thanks. Thank you to everyone for motivating me to write again.
You guys rock (literally)
