Wow. What a powerful beginning to a story. You have most definitely NOT lost your touch during your hiatus. (Welcome back, BTW. It's wonderful to see you on the MB again.)
A couple of the lines that hit me hardest were:
he thinks that that’s the exact, precise moment when Clark Jerome Kent died.
and
as if that desk with its obsolete nameplate is the grave marker for Clark Kent’s all-too-short life
Poor Clark -- and poor Jonathan and Martha, as well. I wonder where they all are hiding, and what sort of a life they are living. (We've gotten glimpses of what Clark has been doing, but nothing yet about his parents.)
Rarely have I liked Jimmy more than I do in this story.
I wonder what happened in Smallville that made Lois decide to write up the story. In most revelation fanfic, Lois is extremely angry and feels betrayed, but rarely does she go public with her knowledge. (I can think of one, very notable, exception: Alisha Knight's
From the Ruins, which I highly recommend.)
I am looking forward to watching this tale unfold.
Joy,
Lynn
