1 MARK
I gazed at the two lovers in a mixture of contentment, but at the same time I was full of distressing thoughts. Mimi, thanks to the works of God and an amorous dead man, was back to live another day. The virus would not take her quite yet, although we all knew that not an hour ago she was weak, drugged up, and was to be one more young life taken by the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Though she stood there among us, healthier and happier then I've even seen her, I knew AIDS takes people quickly, and I knew that next time there might not be another 'miracle' appearance by Angel. We all knew, especially Collins, that Angel had had no loving guide to send him back to us, and Collins was left here alone. There were A LOT of things we all knew. I'm starting to sound like a waking cliché. Maureen and Joanne shared a small kiss as I watched in disgust. Yea, something ELSE for my mind to focus on. Believe me I say that in such extreme sarcasm it makes me nauseous.
My best friend had his girl back, Collins was obviously more content nowadays then he's been since Angel's death, and me---well, shouldn't I be happy for them? Happy for myself for the simple fact that I'm one the few in my group to remain HIV NEGATIVE. I knew what my dreary mood was about, I knew all along, and I hated myself for thinking like this. I'm jealous of what everybody has. While they all go around, perfectly content with what they have, I remain here alone, with my unfinished screenplays and unfinished films. My last flame stood there with her GIRLFRIEND for God's sake!! And the last job I was offered I turned down because I was too preoccupied with other mania. Roger had run off to Sante Fe trying to find himself when him and Mimi were through at the time, Collins wasn't in existence because of the recent death of Angel, Maureen and Joanne were fighting again, Benny was being an ass as usual, and I was just -there- in the middle of it all.
I decided that I would take action at that moment, and do something nice for everybody. True it would leave me broke, but maybe it would help diminish my pessimism. "Free fries and drinks at the Life Café!!" I called out.
"All right Mark!" called Collins slapping my back so forcefully it nearly knocked the breath from me. Clearly he was just as overjoyed as Roger about the rebirth of Mimi. "Come on everybody you heard the man, free food!!"
"And no beer!" I shouted after him as he ran out the door with Joanne and Maureen. Nobody was coming back to the flat drunk tonight, plus I couldn't afford anything alcoholic. Mimi walked up to me and squeezed my arm.
"I'm glad I'm still here Mark." She said so nonchalantly you'd think she was a bad actress after a horribly directed death scene.
I smiled, "I'm glad you're here too Mimi. I don't think I could stand seeing Roger depressed all over again." I looked behind me to see Roger grabbing my jacket, his, and an old one of mine for Mimi to wear. Mimi placed her hand on my cheek and smiled. Her hand was so cold I jerked in surprise.
"Thanks for taking care of him Mark." She said before walking out the door. Something was thrown over my head, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"What have I told you about the hair, Roger?" I said taking the jacket off my head and putting it on.
"Ah, what do you care Mark. You're the cameraman! You could gain fifty pounds and nobody would know it." He laughed coyly at his own crack of humor.
"I wouldn't sit back and laugh if I were you Roger." I said exiting the door.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Because," I turned back and looked at him with a crooked smile, "If you're the last one there--YOU'RE--paying." I took off running for the street corner, throwing my scarf on in the process.
"You little prick!" I heard him laughing, chasing after me. For the first time in forever, I actually laughed. I had my best friend back. What more could a guy need?
I gazed at the two lovers in a mixture of contentment, but at the same time I was full of distressing thoughts. Mimi, thanks to the works of God and an amorous dead man, was back to live another day. The virus would not take her quite yet, although we all knew that not an hour ago she was weak, drugged up, and was to be one more young life taken by the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Though she stood there among us, healthier and happier then I've even seen her, I knew AIDS takes people quickly, and I knew that next time there might not be another 'miracle' appearance by Angel. We all knew, especially Collins, that Angel had had no loving guide to send him back to us, and Collins was left here alone. There were A LOT of things we all knew. I'm starting to sound like a waking cliché. Maureen and Joanne shared a small kiss as I watched in disgust. Yea, something ELSE for my mind to focus on. Believe me I say that in such extreme sarcasm it makes me nauseous.
My best friend had his girl back, Collins was obviously more content nowadays then he's been since Angel's death, and me---well, shouldn't I be happy for them? Happy for myself for the simple fact that I'm one the few in my group to remain HIV NEGATIVE. I knew what my dreary mood was about, I knew all along, and I hated myself for thinking like this. I'm jealous of what everybody has. While they all go around, perfectly content with what they have, I remain here alone, with my unfinished screenplays and unfinished films. My last flame stood there with her GIRLFRIEND for God's sake!! And the last job I was offered I turned down because I was too preoccupied with other mania. Roger had run off to Sante Fe trying to find himself when him and Mimi were through at the time, Collins wasn't in existence because of the recent death of Angel, Maureen and Joanne were fighting again, Benny was being an ass as usual, and I was just -there- in the middle of it all.
I decided that I would take action at that moment, and do something nice for everybody. True it would leave me broke, but maybe it would help diminish my pessimism. "Free fries and drinks at the Life Café!!" I called out.
"All right Mark!" called Collins slapping my back so forcefully it nearly knocked the breath from me. Clearly he was just as overjoyed as Roger about the rebirth of Mimi. "Come on everybody you heard the man, free food!!"
"And no beer!" I shouted after him as he ran out the door with Joanne and Maureen. Nobody was coming back to the flat drunk tonight, plus I couldn't afford anything alcoholic. Mimi walked up to me and squeezed my arm.
"I'm glad I'm still here Mark." She said so nonchalantly you'd think she was a bad actress after a horribly directed death scene.
I smiled, "I'm glad you're here too Mimi. I don't think I could stand seeing Roger depressed all over again." I looked behind me to see Roger grabbing my jacket, his, and an old one of mine for Mimi to wear. Mimi placed her hand on my cheek and smiled. Her hand was so cold I jerked in surprise.
"Thanks for taking care of him Mark." She said before walking out the door. Something was thrown over my head, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"What have I told you about the hair, Roger?" I said taking the jacket off my head and putting it on.
"Ah, what do you care Mark. You're the cameraman! You could gain fifty pounds and nobody would know it." He laughed coyly at his own crack of humor.
"I wouldn't sit back and laugh if I were you Roger." I said exiting the door.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Because," I turned back and looked at him with a crooked smile, "If you're the last one there--YOU'RE--paying." I took off running for the street corner, throwing my scarf on in the process.
"You little prick!" I heard him laughing, chasing after me. For the first time in forever, I actually laughed. I had my best friend back. What more could a guy need?