"Zoom out. My Life. Act 19, Scene 4. My grandmother had died and you decided that you were going just for the hell of going. You didn't know her, but somehow you knew that I wanted you there by my side. We got in another fight, like we always do..."
"She sounded like a great person, Mark," Roger said, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. He was only there because Mark was his best friend and best friends do these kind of things for each other. They sympathize with each other. Roger couldn't abandon his best friend, not after everything they'd been through together. After all the shit he'd put Mark through.
"She was. She practically raised me. I was there whenever I could be," Mark let a smile slip to his face as he remembered better times. Times when he wasn't dying by the day.
"What's your favorite memory of her Mark?" Roger nudged the younger man, just so he could hear him laugh. Something about his laugh made Roger want to laugh too. There was just something about Mark in general, Roger pondered. There was no certain thing.
"I don't know. There are a lot of great things I remember about her Roger. I mean, she used to make the best cookies. And when I was younger she let me help," the smile on Mark's face deflated, "And she left me alone. To face the world. She should be here with me!"
"Mark, she couldn't help it. You said it yourself earlier. She was old. She died of natural causes Mark. And man, that's the best way to go.Think about it. I'm never gonna get that old. I don't get a chance to die of natural causes!" Roger said, grabbing Mark's shoulders. "Don't you see. She was so lucky! Look at the family she had! She lived as long as she could Mark."
"But she should be here with me," a few tears ran down Mark's face. The filmmaker buried his head in Roger's shoulder and sobbed. His chest heaved, he made the odd strangled cries, he grabbed at Roger's shirt, and he mumbled, "I need her here with me."
The songwriter wrapped his arms around the younger man and held him. He'd never let Mark be alone. He'd stay with him until he couldn't stay anymore. It was that day that Roger made the vow, he would find someway to live as long as Mark needed him.
Taking a deep breath, Mark pushed himself away from Roger and looked around. He then took a moment to look at the sky. "Take care of her. She's really special to me."
"Common man," Roger said, taking the arm of his best friend, but Mark wouldn't budge. The two locked eyes. Roger nodded his head as if to say, "Let's get back. People will be wondering."
"I need a few more minutes. You don't understand," Mark said looking back to the freshly covered grave. He then mumbled, "You can never understand. You can never know."
"Mark, we've been out here for almost 3 hours now. Let's go. You've had enough time," Roger said, an exasperated sigh coming from between his lips.
"Who said you had to come anyway Roger? I never asked. You just assumed. If you want to leave you can!" Mark screamed. He turned his back to Roger and just stared at the sky. "Please, help me," he whispered.
"I came becuase I thought you wanted me to. If you didn't want me here all you had to do was say so. Is that so hard?" Roger shouted.
Mark turned, "I didn't say a word. You didn't even know her Roger! Maybe if you knew her or had someone close to you die! Maybe then you would understand!"
"Fuck you Mark. You think I've had the easy life. Look at me! I'm deteriorating by the day. I don't get to live as long as you do!" Roger screamed and walked off.
"You think I'll make it as long as you. Who says I won't be leaving all to soon?"
"Mark, look at you. Now look at me. I have to deal with something you never will have to."
"Stop thinking you're all alone in your problems!"
((Okay, so I really only have a few more chapters to go. Tell me what you think. I mean come on. I have over a thousand hits for this story and only 13 reviews. Reviews make the writing process go a lil bit faster!
And guys seriously. Do you understand the Act 19, Scene 4 parts in the beginning?))