Well, here's an epilogue. I decided the story wasn't finished after all.
I (Seasons of) Love RENT times 525,600 but I don't own (emotion, I) RENT.
This part is Angel-POV.
How did he know?
How did Mark know those words?
You okay honey…
The words that brought us together.
How did he know
The words Collins needed to hear more than anything?
Well
I suppose he didn't know
But he did right.
He brought life to my Tom again.
His depression was too heartbreaking
So when I saw
His arms wrap around our Mark
I wasn't even jealous.
I knew
That no one could replace me.
Just as no one could replace Tom Collins.
They broke apart
And Tom… my Tom… he smiled
For the first time since Halloween.
He smiled, and I saw the tears
Dancing on the edge of his beautiful eyes
He held Mark tight, and looked straight at me in Heaven.
He smiled at me
And I smiled back.
--
Mark didn't continue going around in drag
Collins and Mark didn't become lovers
What Mark did was just a wake-up call.
To let everyone know
That I'm still there
In spirit
In life
In love
In that box that Mark packed away again
But my drumsticks are still there
On display
Or in Tom's pocket
Always visible.
Forever a reminder.