"Maureen, hurry up. It's starting." Marty yelled as they all crowded in front of the 24 inch TV Joanne bought them for Christmas the previous year.
"I'm coming. Hold your horses." she yelled coming out of the bathroom fluffing her hair.
"Mo, we're watching something, not filming something." Roger said smiling as Marty sat on his lap.
"Like you're one to talk. I know you were fixing your hair before we got here. Plus, you never know when Mark's gonna be filming. Especially when you guys are around." she told him sitting on the floor in front of Joanne.
"OK, everyone hush. My segment is starting." Mark said impatiently as the commercial ended.
"And now we have a new segment featuring our very talented cameraman Mark Cohen. He has some extraordinary friends and we will be highlighting two of those friends over the next month. This is Roger and Marty Davis. They are Mark's roommates. Roger and Marty met under very difficult circumstances, but their love story is very exceptional. Marty was raped nearly 2 years ago. Roger found her in the alley next to his building afterwards. He carried her upstairs to his loft and has been there for her ever since. 3 months following the rape, Marty found out she was HIV positive. Which would have torn an ordinary couple apart. But with Roger being HIV positive, they dealt with it and became closer and stronger than ever. Upon her HIV diagnosis, Marty became determined to have hers and Rogers struggles docmented. Mark is a documentary filmmaker and upon completion of his first documentary, about the homeless and people with HIV, Mark decided his next one would be about Love and People with HIV. It is to be centered around Roger and Marty. This is some moments they have agreed to share with us. We hope this helps those of you out there dealing with the same situation as they are. The narration is in Roger and Marty's own words. Thank you." the anchor person began as the film clips began.
"Roger and I don't have such an extraordinary story. I mean, there are many couples out there dealing with the same struggles as we are. Roger found me after the worst thing that could happen to a woman had happened to me and he took care of me. He was there through the good days and the bad days, and in the process we fell in love with one another. Couples fall in love under difficult circumstances all the time. And they survive a lot of things." Marty said sitting next to Roger.
"When I first found Marty, I felt like I should have done more some how. It took me a long time to be able to come to terms with the fact that I couldn't do anything to stop this from happening to her. All I did was find her and make sure she was safe. Falling in love with her was easy. I mean, she's beautiful, has a great personality, she's kind, open and makes me feel like I'm the only person who matters. When the police caught the guy, I'm the kind of person who wanted to kill him. I mean, what kind of person would do something like that to a defenseless woman? It made me sick. But Marty was more than what happened to her. She's a survivor. Then when she was dealt the HIV card, I fell apart. I mean, how could this be happening to her. She never did anything wrong to anyone. But the survivor she is, she insisted no tears or feeling sorry for her. She decided to celebrate life with me and our friends and help Mark with his documentary. I think the only thing that makes us extraordinary is her. I'm just basking in amazement every time I'm around her." Roger said happily sitting alone.
"What happened to me, happens to many women daily. I was raped by a stranger and contracted HIV from that stranger. As I lay in that dark, dirty alley, I was scared. It really didn't register what had just happened. I mean, I was beat up and my clothes were torn and I was in a lot of pain. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had happened. But I was laying there wondering, what now? I mean, I had no friends, I didn't want my family to know what happened, because my parents always hated me living in a dangerous neighborhood. So of course the woman I was, didn't want to hear I told you so. I was laying there trying to regain my composure so I could get out of that filthy alley, when I heard a voice. It was the most gentle voice I had ever heard. I called out to it and Roger came running up to me. He wanted to call the police and an ambulance, but I begged him not to leave me. So he picked me up and carried me into his loft. He and Mark really took care of me. Roger stayed with me with the police, the hospital and my recovery. Meeting him and his friends gave me something I desperately needed at that point in my life. Safety. After I was able to sleep alone without waking up screaming from the attack, I realized that they gave me more than just safety. They gave me a family. When I say that, I'm in no means down grading my parents. They are wonderful. When I finally told them about the rape and the HIV, they were extremely supportive and made sure Roger and I had the most amazing wedding and party that followed. When I was first diagnosed, I broke down. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. But then I got to thinking. Roger's been dealing with it and we have a friend who is HIV positive also and I realized that it wasn't a death sentence. Yeah, it's gonna shorten my life considerably, but I needed to go on. People do it everyday. In a strange way, my diagnosis was the beginning of my life. Sure, I could have lived until I was 100, but what I was doing really wasn't living. I was simply existing. Finding out I had HIV gave me a life to be honest with you. I banned my friends, family and Roger from crying over it. At least in front of me. I wanted to celebrate life, love and everything ordinary people take for granted. The small victories. The sunrise. A loving gaze. I want to live my life to the fullest. When I found out I was HIV positive, was I happy? Of course not. Am I gonna let it be the end of my life? No, I'm not. I want to give the world something. Hopefully telling mine and Roger's story will do that. I mean, sure my friends, family and husband are not gonna forget me. I think I've made sure of that by just being me, but I want to make an impact on those who may not normally know who I am." she continued behind the camera as clips of her and Roger were shown.
"Anyone who's been around my wife, cannot deny her presence. She brings so much to everyone she comes in contact with. I've seen myself change because of her. The night I rescued her, she rescued me. I wasn't living my life to the fullest and I was already HIV positive. I didn't see the point really. But she opened my eyes so wide. I saw what people can overcome if they have the drive within them and she gave me that drive. If I were to die tomorrow to this disease, the time I spent just being with her loving her would be enough for my life to have meaning. At first I was so protective of her because I didn't want anyone else to hurt her, now I'm protective of her because if I lost her, that would be it for me. She is my reason in this world." Roger said as tears filled his eyes.
"When we come back, married life. In the words of their friends." the anchor person said smiling as they cut to commercial.
"Oh my God, guys. That's beautiful. Mark great clips." Joanne said wiping the tears from her eyes and Roger and Marty looked at each other. They were both crying.
"Are you guys OK?" Collins asked looking at them.
"Yeah, we're fine." they answered wiping their eyes laughing a bit.
"Mark, you did an amazing job. Wow." Roger told him caressing Marty's arm.
"Well, I had great subjects." he said smiling at them.
"Marty, that was a great idea. To interview everyone." Maureen said wiping her own eyes.
"Well, I started writing a narration, but it seemed empty somehow. Without everyone's input." she said wiping her eyes.
"It's coming back on." Joanne said excitedly sitting up further in anticipation.
"Roger and Marty Davis. They are a married couple like many out there. With one very large exception. They both contracted the HIV virus. They have chosen, rather than just to fade into the background as statistics, they have chosen to allow their best friend and roommate, Mark Cohen to highlight them on Buzz line to show the world that HIV is not a death sentence and hopefully help other HIV positive couples see that it is not the end of their lives. This is how their friends see them." the anchor person began coming from commercial.
"Roger and Marty are two of a kind. I mean, Roger was a rock star wannabe before he met Marty. He was playing clubs with his band and working as a bartender, but he wasn't living. That boy was just moping around life hoping he would find his purpose in life before he died. When he found Marty, she really found him. It is a messed up way to meet your soul mate, but they needed each other at the time and they were incredible together. When I first saw them together, I have to admit, I was weary of what I was seeing. I saw Roger falling for her. I was afraid after a while, he would be a reminder of what happened to her and would want to get as far away from him as humanly possible. I mean, she was like a scared child. I felt so bad for Babygirl. She was so beautiful and innocent and needed Roger so much. She was so scared that when she first met me, poor girl was scared of me. I'm not so scary. I mean if you know me, you know I'm a pussycat. A big teddy bear. But when she warmed up to me, that smile slayed me. And her zest for life. I only knew 2 other people like her and unfortunately they are both gone from this earth. Taken by the same disease we have. But if they were alive, New York City would be in trouble. You think this city doesn't sleep now? New York has no idea how much trouble it dodged that those three never got to be together." Collins said smiling as his eyes filled with tears.
"Witnessing Roger and Marty's love not only begin, but grow into this amazing example of how love is meant to be has changed everyone. It's beyond everything we thought was possible. I mean, you see this horrible tragedy and think how unfair life if, but then to have this wonderful thing come out of that tragedy gives everyone hope that things happen for a reason. Even the worst things in the world. And sometimes the reason manifests into giving those parties involved a new meaning. Does that make sense?" Joanne said as tears trickled down her face.
"I have such mixed feelings for what happened to Marty and brought Roger into her life. Being raped is the worst thing in the world to happened to a woman. There's no way to make light of it. She did not deserve for that to happen to her. And then contracting HIV? You have no idea how angry I was about that. I love her so much that I felt it was a cruel joke God was playing. I was so upset over it. It sickened me, but then she came in and told us she would not have us crying in front of her. This was her fate and even though it wasn't fair, she had to live with it and that's exactly what she was gonna do. Live her life. Her and Roger really set the bar for how to live your life and be in love. They showed us how it's done really. I'm just sorry they can't have a child to pass on their love to. But they've passed it on to all of us. And that's something we're gonna pass on when they're gone." Maureen said holding back tears.
"Mark, why did you want to tell this story? Out of all the stories in New York City, why was this one so important?" the anchor person asked as Mark sat obviously nervous in front of the camera.
"Well, it's one I know very well. I mean, they're my best friends and I've been there since almost the moment they met. I remember Roger coming into the loft with this beaten and battered girl in his arms, yelling at me to clean off the couch. I didn't know what was going on at first. He told me where he found her and what had happened to her. I called the police and the ambulance and from then on, I just watched what was going on. Roger sleeping in Marty's room every night whether he started off there or she yelled for him from a nightmare. They yell at me to get a life, but it is a lot more rewarding documenting theirs. I mean, unfortunately, I'm gonna be here long after their gone, so I want to enjoy my friends as long as I can while their here. And watching their love grow and become what it is now has given me something that I couldn't get anywhere else." Mark said looking into the camera shifting in his seat.
"Next week, we're gonna focus on Roger and Marty's lives now. What they're doing and how they focus on their future, short as it may be." The anchor person said as the show ended.
"Oh my God, that was amazing. I'm speechless." Maureen said as Roger and Marty held each other wiping their tears.
"Mark, that was great man." Collins said wiping his own tears.
"Well I just showcased what inspires me and Roger and Marty inspire me." Mark said as Marty got up off of Rogers lap.
"Thank you so much Mark. That was incredible. It's better than I ever expected it to be." she said hugging him.
"Well thank you for letting me feature you guys. I think it's gonna be the highest rated segment we've ever had." he told her smiling.
"Really Mark. That was great. I know it's gonna be hard to be the one to survive." Roger said giving him a weak smile.
"Rog, I try not to think about that." Mark said looking at him.
"As well we shouldn't. We're together now and that's all that matters." Marty said smiling at everyone she gave Mark a kiss on his cheek.
"You're right Marty. Now how about we bust out the Stoli to celebrate Roger and Marty's television debut?" Collins said getting up to go into the kitchen to get the glasses and the Stoli.
"Great idea." Marty said shifting back over to Roger as the phone rang.
"Who could that be?" Roger asked looking back the phone as Collins ran up to answer it.
"Hello?... Hey Mrs. D. Yeah, they're right here. Hang on." he said taking the phone away from his ear. "Rog, it's your mom." he said as Roger and Marty both got up to get the phone.
"Hey mom... thanks, yeah we're really happy with how it turned out... yeah, Mark did an awesome job... wasn't she great?... Yeah, she's right here... OK love you too mom. Bye." he said holding the phone to Marty. "She wants you." he said kissing her head as he went into the kitchen to help Collins.
"Hi mom... thank you. I'm just happy to make a difference... I love you too... OK we'll see you over the weekend. OK Bye." she said hanging up the phone.
"So what did my mom say?" Roger said carrying the glasses into the living room.
"Just that she loved me and she was proud of how I handled myself." she said leaning up to kiss him.
"What was that for? Not that I'm complaining." he asked smiling down at her.
"Because I love you. And giving me a great mother in law." she said smiling up at him as she helped him put the glasses on the coffee table.
"Well you're welcome. I love you too." he said putting the glasses down and taking her into his arms.
"I love you too Roger." she said holding her tight.
"OK you two. You're married. We know you love each other, now come over here. You're missing your own celebration." Maureen said smiling as Collins poured the drinks.
"Sorry guys." Marty said as Roger held her in his arms.
"That's OK Babygirl. Don't listen to her. You two can do anything you want." Collins said smiling at them.
"You're just saying that because you always take her side." Maureen said jokingly.
"Well she is my favorite." Collins told her winking at Marty.
"What a coincidence. She's my favorite too." Roger said leaning down to kiss her again.
"Come on Sweetie. Let's stop torturing Maureen." Marty said laughing.
"OK fine." he said as they went back to the couch to celebrate with the others as the phone rang.
"Who could that be?" Marty said as Mark got up to answer it.
"Hello?... Hi Alexi... Yeah, we saw it. We were just celebrating. What's up?... Really? The highest rated show ever? That's great... guys this was the highest rated show in Buzz line history." he said taking the phone away from his ear to tell the others.
"That's amazing Mark." Joanne said happily as Roger and Marty looked at each other.
"Oh sorry, yeah everyone's happy... OK we'll be there monday morning... OK thanks. Bye." he said hanging up the phone.
"I didn't know we were so interesting." Marty said sitting on Roger's lap.
"You guys are interesting." Joanne said smiling at them.
"Well I'm glad so many people saw it. Hopefully we helped someone." Marty said looking at them.
"I'm sure you did Babygirl." Collins said taking her hand.
"I hope so." she said as Roger kissed her head.
"So how about we propose a toast. To Roger and Marty. Two of the bravest people we know." Maureen said smiling at them.
"I'll drink to that." Collins said holding his glass up as they all followed suit.