"Hey, Bill." He doesn't look so good. Alyson unloaded his groceries from the basket and scanned them. Macaroni? Canned tomato sauce? "How are you? I haven't seen you in weeks!" He shrugged and looked at his hands. Alyson shook her head and totalled his order. "Eleven dollars twenty five cents." Not very much. Not like him to eat cheaply. "What's the matter?" "Will's been in the hospital. I just run home to eat something that isn't made in the cafeteria." "Oh no! What happened?" "Pneumonia." "That bad?" "Yeah." He seems so down, she thought. "Can I help?" "I ... I don't know. I don't know how." He looked up at her and he looked sadder than she'd ever seen someone before. Pneumonia that bad? "He's not going to get better, is he?" Bill looked away again, then down at this hands, then shook his head slowly. "No. He's not." "Bill, I'm so sorry." He shrugged. "Can I come by? See you? See him?" "He's at St. Mary's. I'm there every hour they'll let me." He sighed heavily, sounding frustrated and tired. "I'll come by when I get off work." "Thanks. I.." He trailed off, looking at nothing in particular. "I could use a little company." Alyson looked behind him and saw the line growing. "I'll see you then. Take care of yourself, eh?" He nodded absently, took his bag of groceries and left. The woman in line behind him impatiently threw her groceries on the counter. Alyson tried not to glare. "His roommate is sick. They're really close friends." "Whatever. I'm in a hurry." Alyson scanned the pile as fast as she could. At least it'll fly by like it always does. She sighed, already tired. * * * The hospital entrance was cold, the glass leaking heat to the rainy weather outside, and the automatic doors staying open long enough with each entrance to cool the room. "Can I help you?" "I'm here to visit William Johnson." "Are you family?" "No, I'm a friend." "Visitors hours start at seven. Only family is allowed until then." Alyson sighed and sat in the chairs. Forty-five minutes. She fidgeted in the chairs by the desk, trying to stay warm and entertained until visiting hours started for the evening. Traffic slowed through the entrance for a few minutes, providing a little warmth, the doors staying blissfully closed. Five minutes before seven, they grumbled open again and Bill walked in, looking haggard and tired. "Bill!" "Hey, Alyson. Thanks for coming." "Of course!" I sound way too cheerful. "How is he?" "Let's find out." The elevator took what seemed like an hour to arrive, and what felt like another hour to get to their floor. She felt like the cheery 'Ding' as the elevator doors opened echoed inside her head. "Which way?" The corridor looked harsh and sterile and identical in both directions. "1215. On the right." They walked along the corridor, Alyson trying to step silently so that her shoes on the linoleum didn't slap and echo. The ward beeped and blipped with machines and monitors by each bed. A plastic tent wrapped each bed. Alyson followed Bill's lead and took a mask and tied it around her head, covering her mouth and nose. They slipped inside the tent, the thick walls crinkling as they entered. Will looked up at them from the hospital bed, an oxygen line running to his nose. "Hi" he said weakly. His eyes still shone brightly, the smile he always wore on his whole face still there in his eyes. Alyson smiled. "You came back." She wasn't sure whether Will sounded surprised or not. "Of course I came back. They won't let me in during family-only hours, but I came the moment visitor's hours opened." Bill sounded so tired and frustrated. "You're my family." "I know, love." Alyson stopped for a moment, realization dawning on her. They love each other. I saw roommates, and they love each other. The frustration and rage that she felt from Bill suddenly snapped into sharp focus, and she tried not to let it show on her face. Will looked over at her, then back to Bill. "She just figured it out." He seemed to be laughing even though he was out of breath talking even that much. She blushed as Bill looked at her, and the first smile she'd seen on his face lit up. "I didn't know! It's so ... I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry," Alyson said. He laughed, and she blushed more. "I had a bet going with Bill on how long it would take. Looks like he lost." "Did you really?" "Yeah. It passes the time, you know." "Will?" "Yeah?" "You're going to get better, right?" He paused, blue eyes still for a moment. Alyson watched him swallow, open his mouth to speak, then swallow again. "Probably not." She felt tears well up in her eyes. "Why not!?" Hysteria tinged her words. "I've been dying for a long time. I probably can't," he took a breath. "fight this off. They're pumping me full of antibiotics," another breath, "and it might help but it might not." Alyson started to sob as the full reality hit her. AIDS. "How long have you known?" "Fifteen years. A little less." She nodded, feeling her stomach stop thrashing and settle into a cold, hard lump. She squeezed his hand. His eyes smiled as she did. A rustle outside the isolation tent, then they heard the strident voice of the duty nurse. "Family only. Time to go, folks!" Alyson felt her throat close up and new tears well. Damnit. So unfair. Bill tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm too tired to fight anymore." The look on his face made her stomach clench. So drawn, tired. He looked older suddenly. She glanced back at Will, and saw a tear slide down his cheek. Will said "wait a moment," and Alyson caught a little motion from his left hand as he hit a switch on the control near his bed. The nurse's voice came through the plastic curtain. "Yes, Mr. Johnson?" "This is my family." "I'm sorry. Only immediate family members." He coughed and fought to speak. "They're my family." Bill gave Will a look that Alyson could only interpret as frustration and pity. The nurse stepped through the opening in the tent holding a mask over her face. "I'm sorry. You two need to leave. You're not immediate family." Alyson choked back every venomous comment that came to mind. Bill just looked beaten. "How long have you been fighting this?" "Since he got here. Two weeks. Every night, they push me out. Every nurse." "It's policy, sir. Time to go." The shrill voice came through the plastic again. "Five minutes." She left the tent and they were blissfully alone for a few more moments. Alyson hugged Bill gently. Bill leaned over, glanced to make sure the nurse wasn't watching, then lifted his mask and pressed his lips to Will's. They are so beautiful, Alyson thought. I wish anyone in my life cared that much. Bill stood and turned away, his hand lingering in Will's, then slipping away and didn't look back. He ducked out of the tent, out of the ward, and started sobbing.