I don't usually cry over the deaths of fictional characters, so my reaction to Dana Fairbanks's death on 'The L Word' took me by surprise. When I started watching the show, Dana was immediately one of my favorite characters. The insecurity surrounding her sexuality was something I could relate to, and I admired her bravery in eventually coming out to the world. Dana was strong and passionate. She hardly showed any weakness, so her sickness in Season 3 took me by surprise.

It all happened so quickly, and the journey from her diagnosis to her death was heartbreaking. Everyone cared for Dana—she was continually surrounded by love. The suggestion that she and Alice might give their relationship another try made Dana's passing even harder to deal with because of Alice's profound dedication to their love.

As Dana lay in the hospital bed and her heart rate slowed, I begged the universe not to let it happen, as if I could make it stop. Maybe I could handle it, but I knew that Alice couldn't. Watching her collapse outside the hospital room with a bag of gifts she bought for Dana was one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've ever seen—especially when a toy she bought began singing "You Are My Sunshine."

After the episode, I needed to take a break. I could feel it in my heart, and I couldn't even remember when I had become so invested in these characters. Watching the show was just a hobby until I found myself crying in front of my computer screen at midnight.

I texted everyone I knew who had seen the show, and they all felt my pain and remembered how they reacted when they first saw the scene. I feel like 'The L Word' is some sort of queer inauguration —I just didn't expect it to be this emotional. As ridiculous as it sounds, I feel like I lost somebody close to me. Dana's character raised awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and cancer, and I consider her one of the most powerful women on television.