The song is called "The End", and it is by Erik Brandt, the lead singer of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet. It's on his CD "Green-Eyed Alone".

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT or "The End". They belong to Jonathan Larson and Erik Brandt, respectively.

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Darling

Don't shed a tear

The end is nearly here

Tell me:

Is the sun burning out

Or fading away today?

Roger stood at the window in the sterile white room. It was a week after Christmas Eve, the night they had brought Mimi to him.

The doctors said that it was a miracle she was revived that night, and she was lucky to have held in all week. But one look at her, so small, so weak; you could tell she didn't have much more time.

He turned when he heard movement from the bed. He walked toward her and held her hand.

Mimi opened her eyes. "Roger?"

"I'm here, Mimi, I'm here."

Mimi smiled and took a deep breath, then started coughing. As Roger scrambled to get her a glass of water, tears came to his eyes. He couldn't watch another person die of this disease. It meant he had to face his future.

When he handed her the glass, she saw the tears in his eyes.

"Roger? What's wrong?"

He couldn't take it any more. All the thoughts and fears he had been bottling up now came bursting from him. "What's wrong? What's wrong?! You're dying, that's what's wrong! I have to watch another friend fade away and face the fact that at any minute I could be the same way!" At this poin the broke down in quiet, heaving sobs, and collapsed on the bedside chair with his head in his hands. He looked up when he felt Mimi's small hand on his cheek.

"Come here," she said, and pulled him up next to her on the bed. She wound her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest.

Hold me tenderly

And I'll surrender everything

The symmetry of you and me

Is poetry

Oh, lie to me

"Roger, everything is going to be okay. It's going to hurt for a while, but you're a survivor. And you have so many people who love you. Like Mark. You know he'll be there for you through everything. And Joanne. She's a great listener. So if you ever have a problem, I want you to go to her. Collins knows what it's like to lose a love. Talk to him. He'll help you. And Maureen is always a help if you need a laugh. Just promise me you won't hide yourself from the world. Mark told me what you were like after April died. Don't be like that. Go out. Date. Have good experiences. Don't have any regrets when you do end up like this. Remember what we always said: 'No day but today.' Promise me, okay?"

Paint me in red

Sing me off to bed

Holding my breath I crawl down

Your voice silently unraveling

They lay in silence for a few minutes. Roger could hear her breathing become more shallow as the seconds ticked away. He knew she would only have a few minutes left. New tears came to his eyes when she asked, "Will you sing that song? The one you wrote for me?"

He could hear his voice crack as he sang, but he knew he had to finish the song, even after he felt her small body go limp in his arms and heard the machines flat lining. He softly laid her on the bed and, wiping his eyes, bravely walked into the hallway, into the arms of the friends he knew would help him through this.

Darling

Don't shed a tear

The end is nearly here

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fin