Chapter 5

 

Later that night, AJ found himself dialing the phone number that was written on a piece of paper in round, neat handwriting.  It was Tara's number. 

 

He dialed the number and sat back in his chair, listening to it ring.  Finally, someone answered.

 

"Hello?" came a man's voice.

 

"Hi, may I please speak with Tara?" asked AJ politely.

 

"Sure, just a minute," the man said.  AJ heard muffled voices in the background.  Then Tara picked up the phone.

 

"Hello?" she said.

 

“Hey Tara, this is AJ," AJ said.

 

"Oh, hi, AJ," Tara said.  "How are you?"

 

AJ ignored the question and got down to the reason he had called.  "I got tested," he said.  Tara drew in a breath, but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.  "I'm HIV positive," AJ finished.

 

Tara gasped.  "Oh my God, AJ, I'm sorry," she said.  He could hear her begin to cry softly.  He felt bad for her.  He knew he couldn't blame her for all of this.  She didn't know she was HIV positive when she had slept with him.  It was both of their faults.  They had both been irresponsible that night, and now they were paying for it.  Maybe with their own lives.

 

"Tara, it's not your fault.  I don't blame you," AJ said, sighing.  "If only we had been more careful."

 

Tara also sighed.  "I know," she said.  "But I feel awful.  I can't believe I did this to you."  She began to sob again.

 

"Shhhh," AJ soothed.  "Don't cry about it.  I told you, it isn't your fault.  I was the one who drove you back to my place."

 

"But aren't you upset?" Tara asked through her tears.

 

"Of course I am," AJ said.  "I've been crying all day about it. But I don't want you to feel like you're to blame for this.  You didn't know, and it isn't your fault."

 

Tara sniffed.  "If only I had been more careful with my ex- boyfriend," she moaned.  "When we were together last year, I was taking birth control pills so we didn't use condoms.  He was doing drugs, and I didn't know about it until later.  That was the reason why we broke up.  But I had no idea that he had contracted HIV from sharing needles.  He didn't know either, until he started getting sick a few weeks ago and went to the doctor about it.  He called and told me about it right away so I could get tested."

 

"I'm sorry," AJ said.  "For you and your ex-boyfriend."

 

Tara sighed.  There was a long pause.  "What about our baby?" Tara asked suddenly.

 

"Huh?" AJ asked.

 

"What if it is born HIV positive?" Tara asked, her voice shaking with more tears.

 

"I didn't think of that," AJ said, sighing. 

 

"It's a good chance the baby could have HIV.  I heard one of the ways it is spread is from a mother to her baby," Tara said softly.  "I don't want that to happen to our baby, but I would never have an abortion.  I want to keep the baby.  I'm against abortion."

 

"I agree," AJ said.  "I don't want you to have an abortion either.  Listen, even if the baby is born with HIV, we can still take care of it.  I mean, we'll know what to do since we both have it ourselves now."

 

"What will we do when the baby is born?" Tara asked.  "Move in together or what?"

 

"You should move into my place," AJ said.  "There would be plenty of room for all of us to live here together."

 

"Really?" Tara asked, sounding actually happy for the first time in the whole conversation.

 

"Sure," AJ said.  "Like I said, I want to help you with the baby.  Especially now.  And the best way to do that is for us to be living together."

 

"Oh thank you, AJ!" Tara cried.  "You're the best!"

 

"Do your parents know about any of this yet?" AJ asked. 

 

"They know I'm HIV positive.  But they have no clue about what you and I did or the baby," she replied.

 

"You need to tell them soon," AJ told her.

 

"I know," Tara said, sighing, "but I know they will be so disappointed in me." 

 

"I'm sure they will," AJ said.  "You still have to tell them though.  They're your parents. I'm going to have to tell my own mother about all of this soon.  I haven't told anyone about the HIV test yet.  You are the first one to know."

 

"Thanks for calling," Tara said sincerely.  "Listen, I'd better get off now.  I need to go talk to my parents about all of this.  Take care, and I'll talk to you later, ok?"

 

"Sure," said AJ.  "Bye."

 

"Bye," Tara said and hung up.  AJ also hung up, then picked up the phone again.  He had some other people to call.

 

***

 

 

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