Why Dorothy and Toto Went Over the Rainbow
"What movie is this?"
"Oh hey honey, it's the Wizard of Oz," Angel said, sliding her feet underneath her to make room on the couch for Collins. He sat next to her, and grabbed some popcorn out of her bowl.
"I've always loved this movie," he said.
"Oh yeah? Why?" Angel asked, not breaking eye contact with the television screen.
"Many reasons. My main theory on this movie is that Dorothy gets high."
Angel laughed, "Omigosh, what?" she looked over at Collins.
"Well, I mean, Dorothy goes to this magical land full of short people, oddly colored roads, talking animals, scarecrows lacking brains, and green people. Now look me in the eye and tell me that doesn't sound like being high," Collins laughed.
Angel nudged him playfully. "Fine, I accept your theory," she said, munching on her popcorn.
The movie went on. At one point or another, Collins left to go back to school, he had forgotten the papers he had to grade. Eventually, Angel fell asleep on the couch.
"Angelcake, I'm home," Collins said. The only response he got was complete silence. He walked into their living room to find Angel curled up, asleep, on the couch. The end credits for The Wizard of Oz rolled across the TV screen.
Collins turned off the television and picked Angel up. He carried her into their bedroom, closing the door softly behind him. As he set her down on the plush mattress, he noticed something. A dark spot on Angel's neck, which seemed to be covered with makeup. Curiously, he licked his finger and rubbed away the concealer. What Collins had been dreading to find was there, blemishing his Angel's smooth skin. He didn't say anything, he couldn't. He'd been denying the evidence all week, noticing how light Angel had gotten, how she either seemed overly enthusiastic or depressed, and the look in her eyes that had been screaming, "I'm not okay. Ask me." But now here it was, right in front of him. And he could no longer hide from it.
Collins broke down, tears slipping from his dark eyes. Then the tears turned to sobs, and soon he was full on crying. He buried his head in Angel's chest, hunching over her. Collins' terrible cries woke her up, but she wasn't even shocked. She knew he had found it, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
"Collins, honey."
He looked up, his eyes red and puffy, a look of absolute despair on his face. "Ang," he muttered hopelessly, "Angel, tell me it's not."
Just seeing his face broke Angel's heart. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't know how to tell you. Don't worry though, I'm going to the clinic next week for a T-cell count, just to make sure," she pleaded. "I'm going to be okay Collins, I have to be," she said, her own tears now staining her cheeks.
"No! Angel, it's not okay! Who has the right to do this to you! The world is just messing with me, right? They can't take you away from me! Not now!" Collins stormed angrily off the bed, slamming his fist into the wall. "It's not right! You're the best person I know, they can't do this to you! This can't be happening, tell me it's a joke!"
Angel rushed to his side, "Collins, Thomas, honey. I love you," she said gently, not knowing what else to say.
Collins stroked her face lovingly, taking deep breaths. "You can't leave me Ang, I need you. I need you Angel."
"I need you too," she said. Collins ran his fingers over her jawline, and traced the lesion on her neck gently. The mark that said it all. It said she was dying.