Roger Davis hummed to himself as he walked toward the flat he shared with four other people. One of those people was his girlfriend, April. Soon to be fiancé if things went well tonight. He clutched the ring he'd bought after his gig this evening. April hadn't been there to see him perform, which was odd as she'd always come before. She'd actually been absent a lot over the last few weeks, ever since they'd gone in together to get tested for AIDS. She'd been having trouble dealing with the fact that one of his best friends, one of their roommates, Collins had AIDS. She'd avoided touching him or anything that he'd touched since he'd told them. Hell, Roger was having trouble dealing with it, himself. Collins was more like a brother than a friend.
He hoped to cheer April up by proposing tonight. At first, she'd jokingly mentioned a dream she'd had. A dream in which they were married with kids. She'd laughed it off by claiming she was too young to get married and telling him not to even think about it. But, later, after a day full of love and laughter but no thoughts of sex, drugs, or rock 'n' roll, she'd changed her mind. She'd said that getting married didn't sound so bad anymore. He'd taken that sentiment to heart, though she had no idea he'd considered it anything but a joke.
He really didn't doubt what her answer would be once she got over the shock. He loved her and she loved him, why not make it official? It would be the perfect ending to a perfect day. There had been a record producer at this performance and he was starting to think that his band just might make it to the big time. He'd become a real rock star and have the woman he loved at his side while he did it.
The others weren't back yet. Which was all to the good, as far as he was concerned. They weren't too far behind him, which would give him just enough time to propose before they returned. And then April could be the one to share the good news.
The apartment was quiet when he entered. Not unusual when just one or two of them were home and nothing to really worry about. "April, baby?" He called out with a grin. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face…
There was no answer, but he didn't worry. The bathroom door was closed and she probably just hadn't heard him. He slipped the ring out of his pocket and clutched the bottle of expensive champagne he'd bought to celebrate in his other hand as he moved to the bathroom door.
He knocked on the door. "April?" And was surprised when it moved under his hand, not latched…He frowned and pushed it the rest of the way open. He didn't notice when the bottle he held slipped out of his hand and shattered on the floor.
The world began to spin as he took in the scene. So much red…and April…April on the floor amidst all that red, a bloody shard of glass beside her…The mirror was smashed and it was one of those pieces she'd used to slit her wrists. In the sink was a blood covered note which he picked up with trembling hands. It contained only three words:
We've Got AIDS.