No Day But Today
DISCLAIMER: I do not own RENT or anything affiliated with it.
Liz leaned over and kissed Mark on the forehead. His eyes flickered open. "Hey," he whispered.
"Hey," she replied, pushing his hair off his forehead. "Mimi told me what happened. Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Mark replied.
"Roger said you slept most of the day," Liz told him.
"Didn't exactly get much sleep, did I?" Mark asked. Liz smiled.
"Good point. You feeling up to going out with me and Collins?" she asked. "We're going to meet Maureen and Joanne at the Life."
"That sounds good. Just let me change," Mark said. He sat up and started to get out of bed.
"Are you going to tell me the doctor said?" Liz asked. Mark sighed.
"Can it wait? I don't want to ruin tonight," Mark told her.
"If it's that bad, I'd rather you ruin things," Liz replied. He sighed again and sat down next to her. He pulled her closer to him.
"I have leukemia," he said. "Cancer."
Liz took a deep breath. "What are you going to do?" she asked. He sighed. "You're not going to do anything, are you?"
"I can't afford it. It takes all four of us just to have enough for AZT and food," Mark said.
"You made it before Roger was working," Liz reminded him.
"Yeah, and we didn't have enough for food every day," Mark reminded her.
"We'll find a way, Mark. You can't just give up," she said. "You have health insurance, so that'll cover part."
"But I'm going to lose my insurance if I can't work. If I go on all of those drugs, I'll be too sick to work," Mark told her.
"Just think about it, okay? I can get the money. I can't replace you," Liz told him. She kissed him. "When are you going to tell everyone else?"
"Roger already knows. I don't know when I'll tell the rest," Mark told her. Collins knocked on Mark's door.
"Stop it with the sappiness. I'm starving here!" he said. Mark just laughed.
"You should see it… we spent all day making it out of aluminum foil," Maureen said. "Mark, do you think you could come help Jo set up the sound system tomorrow?" Mark stared down into his drink, oblivious to her question. "Mark?"
"Huh?" he asked, looking up.
"Did you even hear a word I said?" Maureen asked.
"Sorry, Mo. I've just got a lot on my mind," Mark said. "What was your question?"
"Could you help Jo set up the sound system tomorrow?" she asked again.
"Yeah, after work," Mark said. Maureen smiled.
"Thanks, Pookie," she said. Mark looked down as Liz put her hand on his knee.
"I'll have everything out at the space by three, so whenever after that," Joanne told him. He nodded. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Mark said. "No."
"What did the doctor say?" Collins asked.
"What doctor?" Maureen asked.
"Why did you go to the doctor?" Joanne asked. Mark sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. It was going to be a long night.
"I woke up last night with a really bad nosebleed. Roger made me go to the hospital… the doctors ran some tests and stuff," Mark told them. They all just nodded. "I have c…cancer," he whispered, his voice cracking. He buried his face in his hands and began to cry. Liz moved her arm around him and let him cry as the others watched in stunned silence. After a few moments, the others began trying to comfort him as well. He finally calmed down and wiped away his tears. "Sorry."
"Don't be, Pookie. You have every right to be upset," Maureen said. She got up and gave him a hug. "Whatever you need, okay?"
"Same goes for me," Joanne told him. He smiled.
"Thanks."
"When are you starting chemo?" Joanne asked. His smile faded.
"I'm not," he replied. She stared at him, confused.
"What do you mean, you're not?"
"I can't afford it." Joanne shook her head.
"That isn't an excuse, Mark. We can find ways to pay," she told him.
"Please, don't make this your problem," he said. "I've already accepted it, okay? I have a year left, and I'd rather spend it working and having fun with you guys."
"Pookie, you can't be serious," Maureen said.
"What choice do I have?" Mark asked her.
"We'll find the money, Mark," Collins said.
"Where? You, Mimi, and Roger all have to spend your paychecks on AZT and food," Mark reminded him. Before Collins could reply he added, "And don't think I'm about to let any of you quit taking AZT."
"Don't worry about where it's going to come from, okay? We're not going to let you just give up," Joanne told him.
"It's not your choice to make, Jo. Please, guys, let's just talk about something else," he begged. He was getting sick of this conversation, and he still had to tell Mimi.
Mark stared across the news van at nothing. He wasn't in the mood to talk, especially not after dinner the night before. He just sat there, holding Liz's hand
"You guys are awfully quiet. Have a fight or something?" Jacob, the driver asked.
"No. Just not in the mood to talk," Liz said, replying for Mark. She squeezed his hand gently. He closed his eyes and laid his head back into the seat. After a few minutes, she turned and looked at Mark. "Oh my God. Jake, stop the van," she said.
"What?" Mark asked, sitting up. He felt light headed.
"Your nose," Liz replied, handing him a tissue. He reached up and felt the blood oozing out.
"Not again," he muttered, trying to clean up the blood. Jacob managed to pull the van over into a parking spot and he turned around.
"Are you okay man?" he asked, watching Mark.
"I'm fine. It'll stop soon," Mark said, more for his own benefit than anything else.