Chapter Text
Hi everyone! At the time I am posting this I haven't posted all the chapters for part 1. I have finished them though. And I realized I have so much more of this story to write. I think it deserves it's own part. This is a new chapter. The end of the start. The start of the beginning of the rest of Benny's life.
I have received so much support and comments and I am so so so grateful to everyone who took their time to comment (special shoutout to Kipper who comments almost every single time with so much encouragement and helpful feedback! love you dude!)
If it wasn't for all the support, this fic wouldn't be what it is.
And finally...
I want to thank my friend Stevie.
Thank you so much for sharing your life, your story, with me and letting me add parts of your story into someone else's. You have been so kind and patient and open and I can't tell you enough how proud of you I am. You have really been a defining person in the development of Benny's character.
Thank you for sharing part of your story with the world and for being an inspiration.
Stevie is my real life Front Row Found Me. He is such an inspirational guy and he's talked me through many panic attacks and meltdowns and I owe him so much.
Now Stevie has a message for everyone:
-hey all, i'm stevie. before you ask, yes it has been weird seeing a character with some similar defining moments. luckily though, i did not grow up in a trailer park and my parents aren't abusive... physically at least. it has been quite a time lets say... seeing a character represent me and my personality so accurately has honestly been kind of scary. but i would have to be lying if i said i didn't cry at the end of every chapter. kas has such a beautiful way of putting experiences and thoughts into words and into coherent stories even.
you probably have a bunch more questions but yes- the dish soap slide actually happened, the skateboard ollie down the slide happened, the backflip off the couch and almost paralyzing myself happened, living in germany happened, i didn't get locked in a closet during an air raid drill in germany but i was home alone during one and it totally freaked me out, my face was paralyzed when i was like 6 years old, and uhhhh.... what else is there.... i dunno, thats about it.
OH im also a trans guy but im not bisexual im straight.... IM A STRAIGHT WHITE MAN AGHHH WTF
anyways. kas is the most flamboyant gay man ive ever met, yet he really captures the transmasc experience well. i think it honestly hurt his soul a bit to write a straight relationship.
but yeah, i love this guy so much, he deserves all the support in the world