Dedicated to AgentofDreams989, damianflashpoint, joshuasmith943, and every single Flash fan out there, because we've all become one big family, thanks to this indescribable show.

" Never say goodbye. If you don't say goodbye, then you aren't really gone, you just, aren't here right now."

Tonight, we're going to witness the end of an Era. The Flash is ending.
I don't even know what to really say.
We've had an incredible Nine seasons that all of the cast and crew have worked so hard to bring us, with more memorable, inspiring, awesome, and heartwarming scenes than I can count in any of them.
And while Nine seasons is a lot (more than any other show I've watched), I still really don't want it to end. (I'm sorry, trying to fight back some tears here 😢😭)

I remember when it started in 2014, I was nine, my Mom was watching this new superhero show that had just come out on this weird grownup channel called the CW. My Mom said that she thought I might enjoy it, so I watched a scene or two with her, and was completely blown away by the coolest superpower I had ever seen.
I mean, superspeed not only is the best superpower, but looks and has to feel the greatest too!
I was hooked, and asked if I could watch the pilot and second episode (which was out at that point) on our laptop, which I did.
And can I say, the fight with the army of one guy that next episode, combined with the chilling scene of Dr. Wells wheeling into Stagg's office only to stand up and kill him in cold-blood, absolutely reeled me in. And I've been a huge fan ever since.

I lost touch around season three unfortunately, due to some circumstances, but even with that, still rewatched the first two seasons (I mean, how could I not?!?)
Luckily, around the time of mid season 7 premiering, I found my way back to it, picking back up and watching through it slowly to take in every moment I could, catching up to current right as episode 8 of Season 9 premiered (amazing episode by the way 🤩💜❤).

But the whole point is, I've held this show close to my heart since I was just a little boy, and all the way since just before I turned ten, and it still feels surreal to even say it's ending. Flash, Agents of Shield, and The Clone Wars were my childhood, and I don't want to say goodbye to my friends here.

This show has always been there to cheer me up when I need it, to give me a laugh, make me cry, and most of all, make me happy. And its changed me in so many ways as a person, in the way I look at my own life.

Barry, The Flash, has inspired me to be the best version of myself, to be someone who puts others first, to be kind, be a hero. And he's also always going to be the very definition of what a hero is to me.

Iris has inspired me to try and be a little bit more confident in myself, to work hard and take pride in who I am, and just to trust in myself too (all of which is something I have a lot of problems with sometimes lol)
She's really shown me that, it's okay to cry and feel beaten, but it's even more important to pick yourself back up to fight again, and fight for the people you love.
And one day, I hope to have some of that confidence (and awesomeness) that she has, but all that love she has for others too.

And Nora has inspired me to just be me, and love myself, be comfortable with who I am. Be willing to make mistakes, and learn that they're okay, and never feel like I have to change (along with it being normal to want to hug everyone in sight too).
As someone with Autism, she makes me feel like I, with all my flaws and all, am perfect just the way I am. And nothing else has truly made me feel that way.
I can't even say how much that connection means to me.

The whole West-Allen and family stuff, I don't even know how to explain it.
I'm just going to try and keep it short and simple, and just try to put into words that kind of feeling.

It's made me realize just how much I want to eventually find someone that I can call my own Lightning Rod, my everything, my always, someone that I can make smile the way that they do, and do the same when I see them, make each other laugh the way they make each other laugh, and just love them with all my heart, and be reminded of that just every time I see their face, and have someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with 💜

And as for family, just to hope that one day, one day far, far, far from now, I might be lucky enough to have one of my own.
To maybe, just maybe, have a daughter of my own that looks at me the same way that Nora looks at Barry, and hugs him with her whole heart.
To maybe be lucky enough to get to do something as important as give her just a single hug when she's feeling down, to wipe away a tear when's she's sad, to celebrate and cheer her on when she's happy.
To have the gift of getting to change someone's life like that, because in my opinion if I could do that, then my life would already have meant something right there.

Hehe, sorry if I got a little deep there 😅

And as silly as it might sound to someone, all of those things above were changed so much by this show, which has honestly changed me that much as a person, in ways that'll never go away.

There's so much more to say too, so many more ways this show, what some will say is just a piece of throwaway fiction, has changed my life for the better.
And to that I'll paraphrase Dumbledore here:
" Of course it's not real, but why can't it still be real to us?"

I know all good things have to come to an end, but they never truly end unless we let them.
Because they will always be with us in our hearts, no matter where we go, what we do, how we change, these characters, this story, will always be a part of all of us forever, and I'll never have a way to truly say how much that means to me.

No matter what happens though, or what comes next, I just want to say, that above all else, Grant Gustin will ALWAYS be The Flash for me, Candice Patton will ALWAYS be Iris West, Jessica Parker Kennedy will ALWAYS be The Flash's daughter, whether they call the character Nora or not, and Tom Cavanaugh will ALWAYS be The Reverse Flash. Along with so many others.
Thank you guys so much for so many wonderful memories, and for changing my life in so many great ways.
I will always love these characters and this show, and it'll never leave my heart, no matter what.

Because remember, anybody can be a hero. It's not about having superpowers, facing off against evil everyday, or even getting struck by lightning, it's about what you do with the good inside you.
The choices you choose to make.
Even something as simple as a smile, can make all the difference in the world.
So go out there and be The Flash everyone, dare to believe in the impossible, because that's what we all can be, if we just try and put some love into the world.
And you'll all see, that that love will come right back home to you too ❤️💜

And, I guess this ends this tribute here, I hope you guys liked it. But mostly, I'm just happy to put this out there to show a fraction of just how much this show means to me, and how close it is to my heart.
And even though it's ending, I'm not going to let it stop changing me, or say goodbye. Not really. Because -

" If you don't say goodbye, then you aren't really gone. You're just not here right now"

And besides, I know that this isn't the last goodbye anyway, I know that we'll see these friends again, someday.

And to anyone that says I'm crazy, all I have to say is,
                I believe in the impossible.

Thank you for an incredible Nine seasons everyone, and just know, your fans, will never, ever stop running.

Now Run Barry, Run! ⚡️⚡️⚡️