CHAPTER 23

When Ellie left, I sat alone in my room. I felt hollow… completely hollow. When I closed my eyes the word "HIV" flashed like a neon sign in my head. So I laid there, my eyes wide open, staring up at the stark white ceiling.

I walked into the waiting room of the clinic and sat in one of the cushioned chairs. There were magazines on the table, but I was too nervous to read. After the longest five minutes of my life, the nurse called my name. She was the same woman who I had dealt with days before, only she looked very gloomy now.

I sat down, staring at her expectantly. She said nothing. I wanted to scream at her, to demand that she tell me what was going on... but no sound came out of my mouth.

"Are you sure you want to know?" she asked finally.

I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing. Why couldn't I talk!? I nodded