This was originally suposed to be a one-shot of Mimi's life...but that has since morphed into the lives of each of the principal Rent characters. I hope you enjoy.
Mimi Marquez, age four, her small hands gripping a piece of green chalk as she finished the face of her Prince Charming. Holding the chalk-prince's hand is a smiling princess with braids that match Mimi's. Carefully, she filled in the prince's eyes, imagining a pair of sparkling emeralds.
"Mimi! La cena está lista!"
"Coming, Mama!" Mimi calls. She glances again at her drawing before skipping into the house, imagining her Happily Ever After.
Mimi, age seven, dresses Barbies with her older sister. Mimi picks out the smallest skirt and a top that shows off the doll's belly button. Anita wrinkles her nose and says the clothing is trashy. Mimi doesn't think so. To her, the doll looks beautiful.
Mimi, age ten, learns about sex for the first time in health class. The other girls wrinkle their noses at the idea, but Mimi can't wait to try it.
Mimi, age fourteen, is holding a bottle of something strong and a cigarette, though she doesn't remember accepting either. Later, the bottle is mostly empty and a boy is offering her something other than nicotine. She figures what's one night and accepts the joint with a smile.
Mimi, age fifteen, losing her virginity in the backseat of her boyfriend's car. They've only been together a few days, but she thinks she might be in love. He handles her roughly and calls her a whore. She likes the word in his mouth and tells him so with her body.
The next day, he tells her there was never anything between them and laughs at her assumptions.
Mimi, age sixteen, in trouble at school for dancing on a teacher's desk. He asks her if she knows what message she's sending. She asks him if he would like a personal demonstration.
Mimi, age seventeen, skips graduation and skips town, heading for the big city.
Mimi, age eighteen, dressed like her Barbie doll, dancing for a crowd in a way that would make her teacher drool. After the show, the manager tells her that some men would like a private performance. Mimi in nervous, but one of the other girls slips her a needle and a way to make everything easier.
Mimi, age twenty, lying on a table on Christmas Eve. She looks up into the emerald eyes of her Prince Charming and decides that now is the time to start fighting for her Happily Ever After.