Disclaimer: I don't own Rent. But still love it and am going to the 10th anniversary lottery!

When I was alive, I loved to people-watch. You know, sitting on a park bench in Central Park or hanging by the loft's window and staring at the bustling street below, sketchbook in hand, drawing anyone and everyone. My favorite 'type' of people were the couples in love. No matter how tacky they might look, kissing in the middle of the street or holding hands as they walked, seeing these people always made me feel "warm and fuzzy."

Even now, up here, wherever that may be, I love watching New York. I still love to watch the couples, but now I watch other people. Some of the saddest things I see are the junkies, looking for the Man to give them their fix. It broke my heart to see these people, most of them my age, doing this to themselves. Call me a hypocrite. I know better now, but that life, I guess.

There was one girl in particular who caught my eye. She was young, 16 maybe, and Hispanic with dark skin, an explosion of chestnut curls, and warm brown eyes. She was also as thin as a stick, and had a haunted look about her, which definitely classified here as one of the Man's. Most of the time, she was there alone, but sometimes I saw her with Benny. What a scumbag, since he was married to Alison Grey, whom we called Muffy after overhearing them in the loft one night. Even though her name reminded me of a tiny, barking dog, Benny was still low for cheating on her. This girl, who Benny called 'Mimi', dressed like a hooker, although, when I watched her one night, she went to the Cat Scratch Club. A dancer! And then, to my surprise, she went back to the loft, without Benny. Apparently she lived right above us, all by herself, by the looks of it. It was interesting to note that although Benny sometimes came to her apartment with her, he was never around when he knew Mark, Roger, Maureen, or Collins was going to be around.

Then one day, about three months before Christmas, I was watching Mimi walk down the street. She stopped at a girl playing the drums, and gave her some spare change. She was really good, actually, and Mimi was dancing along to the beat.

"Mimi," Mimi introduced herself to the player.

"Hi," the girl replied back, in a low voice, "I'm Angel."

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes, just playing and dancing on the street, when along came a couple of skinheads. They apparently knew Angel, because they stopped her and started yelling at her, calling her a fag and a queer, and then starting making fun of Mimi too.

Angel promptly stood up and walked over to them, her face strangely calm. "I'm more of a man then you'll ever be," and she took off her wig, "and more of a woman, then you'll ever get. Now scram before I get a few of my buddies to fix the two of you up." The skinheads didn't need to hear anymore; they were out of there faster than you could say "Boo".

"That was freakin' AWESOME, Angel!" Mimi said, giggling.

"I know," Angel replied, also giggling like mad. "I can't believe I did that!"

The two stayed there for a while, Angel making more money with his? her? playing, and Mimi standing by or dancing. Then, all of a sudden, Benny came strolling by, Muffy in tow.

"Benny?" Mimi called to him. "Hey Benny? Who's that with you?" she asked. Benny turned the darkest shade of red I had ever seen him and started to walk off, warding questions from Muffy.

"That fuck!" Mimi exclaimed to Angel. "Who the hell was that?"

"By the looks of her, his wife," Angel sighed, giving Mimi a hug. "Men can be such jerks," she said, holding the crying Mimi in her arms. I decided then and there that I really liked Angel. Mimi too, was someone who could have been my friend. She had all of the spunk and fire that I wanted. She really reminded me of Roger in a way Which got me thinking………

I might never be back on Earth ever again to spend another Christmas or New Year with Roger, but maybe, just maybe, I could make his New Year a happier one.

I hope you liked it! I was so busy with everything; sorry about the delay! GM