"Merry Christmas!" A cheerful voice calls out into the night.I look around, but I cannot place the voice. Is it Christmas already?

I let myself slump against the cold park bench. Merry friggin Christmas. I don't know why I'm being such a pessimist. This would probably be my last Christmas. Might as well enjoy it.

But somehow, it's hard to be happy when you don't think you'll make it to New Year.

"Hey baby." A masculine voice says. I glance up.The Man. I look back down. "Aww, hon, I'm hurt. Where's the Christmas spirit?"

"You're a drug dealer."

"What'd do you care about Christmas."

"And you're a junkie."

His words had a bite, even if they were true. "What do you want?"

"Don't know why I'm bothering, just thought you'd like to know, your boyfriend, whatshisface..."

"Roger?" I supply.

"That's it. He's been looking for you. Asking around for you."

"He's in Santa Fe."

"Guess he came back. Anyway, I gotta go. Merry Christmas." he says, and as he walks away he tosses me a baggie of white powder.

The shit that had gotten me into trouble.The reason I'm just another drug-addicted whore. Ilook at it.i get up and my head spins. Too fast, I half collapse backdown onto the bench. I let go of it, don't wanna see it.

Would tonight be my last alive?

Would I even make it through the night?

I lay down on the bench, afraid to close my eyes. I'm not sure they will open again. But it does sound nice rest. Maybe it would be OK...

"Oh my god!"

"What is it? Honeybear?"

"Look!"

"Oh... Oh god." I hear the two young women run toward me(And I hear Maureen whine about running in heals).

"Mimi?" Joanne's voice. I feel her hand on my shoulder.

A hand on my forhead. "Pookie, she'd burning up!"

"Um." I manage. "Hi." I struggle to open my eyes. I see the two of them looking concernedly into my face.

"Mimi, c'mon we need to get you into a hospital!" Joanne says.

A hospital? No, I don't want to waste away in a hospital. "No. Take me to Roger. Please."

"It's your life Mimi." Maureen says, shaking her head. She wraps her jacket around my shoulders. Joanne gently picks me up, and I'm carried the two blocks to the loft.

"Mark! Roger! Anyone! Help!"

"Maureen!"

"It's Mimi! I can't get her up the staires!" I see Collins, Mark and Roger run out of the apartment.

And I have back my will to live.