Hope

After Todd's mother dies from cancer, he moves back to his hometown in the foothills of the Appalachians from Chicago. It's 1997 and he's just been given a death sentence -- an HIV-positive diagnosis. Todd expects his remaining time on earth to be spent alone. But Cal, his handsome next-door neighbor, has other ideas. Cal is not the only surprise in Todd's new life. Todd begins having visions of an older woman, Essie, when he dims the lights. Is she just a figment of his imagination? Or is she a truth teller? When she talks to Todd, she's smart and hopeful. When Todd tells Cal about the ghost, Cal knows her already because Todd's mother spoke with her before her death. Essie was a godsend when Todd's mom was in so much pain. And now, Essie urges Todd to live ... for himself ... for new love. But is she too late?

Rick R. Reed · LGBT+

Not enough ratings

11 Chs

Chapter 3

Todd laughed, even though he had every reason not to. This could not be happening to him, even though there was every reason it could, what with the lethal combination his last couple of years had been—too many men and too much coke inspiring way too much “I’ll play safe next time.”

Yet fate couldn’t be so cruel, could it? He’d gotten away without consequences as he witnessed death after death of his brothers from AIDS. He must be immune or something, right? Surely, with all the chances Todd took, he’d be infected by now if it were going to happen.

And the doctor, with his blather about “abnormal” results, certainly was talking about something else, right? Maybe what he meant was that the test was inconclusive, so Todd had laughed. And laughed some more.

The bearded and bespectacled doctor had cocked his head, looking at him like he was an animal in the Lincoln Park Zoo. Todd realized the doc was speechless.

PREV INDEX Next