Chapter 2: You Look Great
Maureen and Joanne walked into Mercy Hospital, each with a bouquet in hand. The approached the front desk.
"Hi," Joanne said to the nurse, "we're looking for a friend who's staying here. Mimi Marquez?"
The nurse typed on her computer, and turned to then women.
"Room 205, floor 6," she told them. They thanked her, and went to the elevator.
They were silent as they rode up past floor 2, floor 3, floor 4, and eventually floor 5. The doors slid open, and the two walked down the hall to room 205.
When they walked in, the saw Mark and Roger were in there, Roger sitting behind Mimi in her bed, holding her close. Mimi's eyes were closed. Mark looked up.
"Hey," he said.
"I she…" Maureen couldn't finish her sentence.
"Asleep," Mark finished. She sighed for relief.
Joanne walked over to Mimi, and kissed her forehead. She smiled at the boys, and sat the flowers in the window sill. Maureen followed suit, and sat in a large chair.
"How is she?" she asked.
Roger looked at the machine connected to her chest, monitoring her heart. "Exhausted. Freezing. Fever." He sighed, and looked down, "Stable."
"That's good to hear," Joanne said, taking a seat on her lover's lap. Roger nodded.
"I called Angel and Collins," Mark said, "They should be here soon."
The five sat in silence for a half an hour, until Angel and Collins arrived.
As soon as they entered the room, Angel walked over to Mimi and rubber her arm. "You'll be fine," she whispered to her, "You're strong."
Mimi breathed deeply, and opened her eyes. "Hi," she said to Angel.
"Hola," her friend answered.
Mimi sat up a little, and pulled her blanket close around her. She fingered the oxygen tube going into her nose.
Angel sat on the am of Mark's chair, and Collins took a seat in the window sill.
"How do you feel?" Roger asked his lover, and she leaned into him.
"I'm so cold," she said in a faint voice. Her hand covered her mouth as she began to cough. Roger pulled her colder to him. Mark reached over and pressed the call light button. Soon, and nurse cam in to the room.
"Can we get her another blanket or two?" Roger asked elderly lady. She looked at the young girl shivering in his arms.
"Of course," she said, and returned with a blue blanket. "It's very warm," she explained, "from the incubator."
Roger took it, and wrapped it around Mimi's fragile body. She sighed, and closed her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered to the nurse.
She snuggled up to Roger, as he stroked her hair. "I love you," she whispered to him. He took her clammy hand in his, and kissed it lightly.
Maureen looked at Joanne, and wrapped her arms around her lover's waist.
"Mimi," Angel said, "bonita chicka. You look so great."
Mimi laughed weakly. "Sure I am," she answered, "I haven't showered in three days."
"So?" Angel said, sitting on the edge of her bed, "You look better than I would." She reached into her purse. "And I have something that will make you look even better," she said. Angel pulled out and held up a bottle of nail polish.
"A manicure," Mimi smiled at her friend's thoughtfulness, "just what I needed."
Angel took her best friend's hand, and began to paint her nails a deep crimson color.
------------------------------------------
Angel sat cross-legged at the end of Mimi's hospital bed, telling her a story about a group of Chinese tourists who mistook her for Yoko Ono.
Roger came into the room with a cup of ice chips in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other. "I had to tell them that my wife was in labor," he explained, "or they wouldn't give me the ice."
He handed them to Angel, and climbed behind Mimi. The drag queen took out a chip and ran it along her friend's lips before dropping it into her mouth. Mimi hummed in satisfaction.
"What time is it?" Roger asked, running his fingers through his girlfriend's hair.
Angel looked at her watch. "Eleven thirty-five," she said, "Do you think they'll kick us out soon?" Roger scowled, and didn't answer.
"How do you feel?" he asked Mimi. She smiled slightly.
"Better, now that you're here," she whispered. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and hugged her close. She held onto his arms protecting her, and he kissed her gently on the head. She shivered.
"I'll go get you another blanket from the incubator," Angel said, squeezing Mimi's leg. She got up and left the room, and returned a few minutes later, blanket in hand. She handed the blanket to Roger, and looked at her Mimi.
"They're making me leave," she sighed, "They said that visiting hours ended three hours ago."
"That's when everyone else left," Roger said quietly.
"What about the nurse that let you stay?" Mimi asked weakly.
"Off shift," Angel answered, and kissed her friend on the cheek, "I'll be back tomorrow, alright? Sleep well."
Angel left the room.