When he opened his eyes, he shrugged, and rasped, ”So when he came over and started giving me attitude, I stabbed him in the leg.

”But you didn’t…” She said again arching her eyebrows at him.

”Infect him? No. I used a new needle. But he didn’t know that, now did he?” He winked at her. Gasping for breath, he cursed softly to himself. Suddenly, he looked tired and sad. ”Look, I may have poked Officer Pretty Boy with an unused syringe, but I murdered my husband on the day I went to that stupid white party, picked up a beautiful stranger, and had wild, unprotected sex with him. And then denied it because I was too afraid to commit to one guy. Now I know love is all that matters, and it’s too late. Don’t be stupid, or afraid like me, go home to your girlfriend and tell her how you feel! I would give anything to be able to do just that. Who knows, if there is an afterlife, maybe I will see him again soon.”

He closed his eyes and sighed.

”Oh.” Gail sounded as deflated as she felt.

”I’m tired now, you should go.” He said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

She got up and looked at him for a moment. ”Thanks Christopher.” She said quietly.

He opened his eyes briefly, smiled a sad smile and closed them again.

Gail was standing in the hallway outside of Holly’s place. She felt kind of stupid. Was this the kind of thing gay girls did? She wasn’t sure, but she did know she had to do something. Her hands were sweating. This was ridiculous. She had never bought anyone flowers before, much less a dozen long stemmed red roses, like the ones she had purchased at the hospital gift shop. Her hand that was holding them was gripping the base of the bouquet so tightly she could feel the thorns through the paper. Should she let herself in? Maybe she should knock.

She knew Holly was mad, or hurt, or something. After receiving just one short text about the results of testing for genetic material on the needle that had stabbed Nick, silence. That was just after lunch.

Yes, maybe she should knock. She fidgeted and wiped her sweaty palms on her pants.