After the End

Chapter 4

After the End chapter 4

March 23rd, 1994. 10:32am Eastern Standard Time.
In the morning, Beth had to go with her friends. "They're probably worried sick I didn't come home at all last night. Plus, today we're going to Times Square. I've never been there."
Mark shrugged, he had been to Times Square plenty of times and he didn't like it. Too many crowds, too many tourists. Not his kind of thing. But still, he didn't want her to leave... "Oh.. Okay. Well, have fun!" He slung his camera bag over his shoulder. She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. He put his hand gently around her waist.
"I'll be back later. Promise, Marky." And with that, she turned and walked out of the loft. Mark finished gathering his things and made a cup of tea on the hot plate. Today, he was going to go shoot some film over in the other areas of Alphabet City but he would go to the Life Cafe first.
Mark got a few good shots of people on the street trying to make a living on his way to the cafe. The homeless were selling anything and everything. Anything to make a penny.
At the Life Cafe, he got a tea and read the newspaper. He couldn't really focus on the newspaper, his thoughts kept wandering back to last night. She was beautiful, unlike anyone he had seen before. Her pale, smooth skin and hair seemed to gleam in the moonlight. Their bodies fit together perfectly as he held her close. Even though the bed was lumpy, he felt as if he was sleeping on a cloud next to her.
"Would you like another tea, honey?" The waitress asked, pulling him back to reality. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out enough change for one more. This would be his last 50 cents for who knows how long, but it was worth it.
"Yes, please, you know how I like it, right?" The waitress nodded and walked off. He came here often, most times the only thing he orders is a tea. He looked around the cafe, it was peaceful these days, no more dancing Bohemians on the tables. No more singing. Just hushed conversations from the other guests. He missed the days were it could be rambunctious here. It was better then, he wasn't alone. Then, he could be outspoken with his friends, now it seemed as if he was stuck inside his head. Most days he didn't even see the point of getting out of bed.
The waitress came back with his tea, and he gave her the change. He was barely able to take a sip when a hand clapped on his shoulder, making him spill some of the hot drink in his lap.
"Well! If it isn't Marky!" a familiar voice said. He didn't even need to look to know that it was Maureen Johnson, his ex girlfriend and anarchist. "Oh, don't roll your eyes, pookie!" She teased Joanne, then leaned in and kissed her. Mark stood up to wipe the tea of his pants, but was pulled into an awkward hug before he knew it. When Maureen finally let go of him, they say across from him and filled him in on everything that's been going on since they saw each other last. Maureen had got a role in an off Broadway show, and Joanne was quickly becoming an accomplished lawyer. They had moved uptown and things seemed to be going pretty well for them.
"So...Mark..." Maureen chided, "What's going on with you? Got yourself a girl?"
Immediately, Mark felt his cheeks go red. She could've asked anything else, but she had to ask that. He hoped they wouldn't notice.
"OH MY GOD!" She practically squealed. "YOU DO! Pookie, Markys got himself a girl!" Joanne rolled her eyes again. "Pookie... I told you about rolling your eyes... Soooo. Tell us about your girlfriend!" Typical Maureen. Always sticking her nose in people's business, and creating a scene. God, did she have to be so nosy. Under his tan jacket, Mark felt himself start to sweat and he wiped his palms on his jeans.
"She-she's not my girlfriend." Was that true? He didn't know anymore. Anyway, how many people discuss their new girlfriend with their ex-girlfriend? "I barely even know her. We met yesterday, and she was a film major." But he did know one thing about her, she liked him and he liked her. He knew she liked him almost immediately. "I'm just glad I have a friend again. And I'm not alone. I..I miss him..." He looked up. He was surprised Maureen didn't interrupt him, she always did. She just nodded her head. She missed everyone as much as he did.
"Aw, Marky, we'll always be here for you. We're still your friends, yah know.."
"Yeah, but it's not the same without him.."
"I'm sorry, Mark.. I know how much it must hurt.." Joanne comforted him.
Mark finished his tea and began to stand up, he didn't want to talk about this anymore. But before he could leave, his stomach growled.
"Hey, when was the last time you ate? An actual meal. Not just cereal. We'll," Joanne took Maureen's hand, "buy you lunch, sit back down."
"No, no it's okay, you don't have to do that. I don't want to intrude.. Besides I don't have any money to pay you back.." He was really hungry, but he couldn't be in Joanne and Maureen's debt.
"Seriously. We will. And besides, you're all skin and bones. When was the last time you ate?"
It was true he had been losing weight since Roger died. Sometimes he just forgot to eat, other times he couldn't afford it. "I had a hotdog for lunch yesterday."
"Yesterday?! Mark! You gotta eat! Even if it's something small, you still have to eat!"
"Fine, fine, yeah I'll eat with you guys." He sat back down. He was grateful for the food, but he really just wanted to be alone. "And I would eat, I just can't always afford to. I have enough to keep the power on and to not get evicted, beyond that I have very little. But don't worry, I'm putting myself out there for jobs."
He ordered a hamburger and fries with a Pepsi while Joanne had a salad and Maureen had soup. The food was good, it tasted like heaven to the starving filmmaker. It was also much needed. The conversation lulled throughout the meal, random questions with short answers followed by awkward silence. He didn't finish the food so he brought it home for dinner later.
He thanked them, and invited them over. "Hey, you guys can swing by my place if you want."
"We'd love to, but we have plans." Maureen said.
"Oh, okay. That's fine. Anytime you want, just swing by." He said, and walked out of the restaurant.
Everything and everyone was changing, except Mark. He was the constant in an ever-changing world. He was stuck to alphabet city like a streetlight. It was still him and his camera, and it always will be Mark and his camera. Through his camera lens he felt he could capture the world, even if his world was the dark, dirty streets of New York City.