(A/N: RAH! I did it again! I fed up the dates again! We are in 1991! Just completely ignore everything I write having to do with dates! I'm normally soooo much better with my timings. I even do the math down to the day usually. Piss and vinegar...oh grr...)
(Disclaimer; I rent RENT and I borrowed the El Salvadorian lullaby...)
June 15, 1991
St.Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan
Well, it's official. I, Roger Alfred Davis, am a father. Eva Angel was born around 8pm tonight. She looks just like her mother. Mimi's doing okay, but nine months without her AZT has taken its toll. The doctors said she wouldn't make it through labor, but, by some miracle, she did. This night's full of miracles, by the way; Eva was born HIV negative. The doctors say that she's one of the healthiest babies they've ever seen. She's so beautiful, it's amazing. There's nothing to make you realize just what a phenomenon life is until you see a baby being brought into the world. It's certainly an experience I'll never forget. The hand Mimi was holding tonight won't ever forget it either--if the feeling ever comes back to it...
"June fifteenth, 1991, nine thirty pm, eastern standard time." Mark began as he held the camera on our new family. Mimi smiled; tired but happy, and holding our daughter close to her chest. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed with my arm around her. "A new bohemian is born," Mark continued. "Focus in on Eva Angel Davis. We can already tell she has inherited her mother's timeless beauty and her father's personality--the nurses say they've never heard such a quiet baby."
"Ha ha, Cohen." I scoffed playfully. Mimi leaned over and kissed my lips softly before looking back down at Eva and whispering to her in Spanish. I didn't understand what she was saying, but her calm voice was soothing, not only to my daughter, but to me as well. The whirring of Mark's camera died away and the room fell silent but for Mimi, singing her lullaby;
"Dormite,
niñita; no llores chiquita
Vendrán angelitos las
sombras de noche.
Rayitos de luna, rayitos de plata
Alumbran mi
niña que está en la cuna."
Mark smiled at me
in a knowing way and nodded before backing out of the room to leave
us alone. I went to the window and looked out on the city below while
Mimi's voice filled my head
"Rayitos del sol el cielo azul
Dejan dormir y empieza
vivir.
Dormite, niñita, con ojos diamantes
Estrellas
brillantes florido el cielo...Roger?" she asked, yawning.
"Yeah, baby?" I said, going back to her
bedside."Here, let me take her." I said, gently taking Eva
from her and kissing Mimi's forehead."Get some rest, okay?"
I said. She nodded. "I love you, Mimi...promise not to leave
me." "I promise, mi
amor. I love you too." she sighed. "Goodnight." I
carried Eva out into the hallway, turning off the lights in Mimi's
room and shutting the door. Mark was sprawled on the white tile floor
in the hallway, his head resting against the wall and a smile
plastered on his face.
"Hey Daddy." he said without
opening his eyes.
"Hey
Uncle." I countered, shifting the baby a little so I could slide
down the wall next to Mark.
June 20th, 1991
St. Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan
I'm at the hospital right now, Mimi's asleep and so are Eva and Mark. I just finished packing everyone's crap up to get ready to go home tomorrow. Mo and Jo left about twenty minutes ago. If I let Mo keep it up, Eva's going to be a spoiled little brat...The doctors told me today how weak Mimi has become. The next cold she gets could be her last. It's going to be another shitty fall this year, I can tell. Soon she'll be back in our bed at the loft and I can hold her again, but I'm so worried that it won't be long before I lose her...
