The Plague

4

Zayn got his result a couple of weeks later. He had HIV. We didn't know what to say.

He seemed to take it pretty well though.
"I have a couple of more years to live. Let's make the most of it! I'm gonna go out with a bang!"

The whole gay community had been petrified with fear until now and Zayn change that. Not by himself, but by inspiring others to continue to live their lives like they did before the virus spread, with one exception: safe sex.

We started to do drag shows again. I had missed being on that stage as Tinkerbell Fabulous. Zayn always gave a great show and he partied like there was no tomorrow. It was like he tried to squeeze in as many life experiences as possible in the time he had left. Having a death sentence hanging over him made him more alive somehow. He didn't care what people thought about him anymore.

I hadn't forgotten about the poor souls in the hospital and I organized a peaceful demonstration outside the hospital. I wrote a sign on a cardboard box.
HUGS ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!

Louis was by my side. Zayn was the one who had spread the word and rounded up the troops. We were at least fifty people there chanting Silence equals death on a Saturday in Spring.

More and more people joined us. I was happy to see that people outside the community stood up for us. They stood there holding hands, not afraid to catch the disease that killed so many of us. It was a demonstration of love for all people, no matter of Sexual preferences.

It paid off. I got a meeting with the Hospital board. Louis offered to go with me but this was something I had to do by myself. I was nervous but well prepared. Two years in the big city made me more confident. I knew Louis was the biggest reason behind that. His love made me strong.

I walked out of that meeting with a victory and I was proud of myself for fighting for something I believed in. Louis popped a bottle of champagne when I came home. Zayn and Liam were there too. I missed Niall. He had been such a big part of our group. I poured him a glass too and put it on the coffee table. Everyone understood and they toasted my win and Niall.

Later that evening when I was laying in bed, resting my head on Louis' chest I told him what I had been thinking about since we found our friend.
"He should have fought! Who knows what kind of medicines there are a year from now? Maybe there will be a cure?"

"I know, love. I wished he had talked to us about it." Louis sighed.

"I miss him so much." I said and started to cry. Niall's absence left such a big hole in my chest.

"Me too." Louis sighed and hugged me closer.

"Lou? Will you marry me?" I asked out of the blue.

"I would love to, but that's not legal, darling." Louis replied.

I looked up at you.
"That doesn't mean that we can't have a wedding. I don't care about a piece of paper."

You smiled and kissed my forehead.
"Yes. I'll marry you."

We told Zayn and Liam the next day.
"Oh, wonderful!" Zayn shouted excitedly and clapped his hands.

"Congratulations." Liam smiled.

"You have to let me help you plan the wedding!" Zayn smiled.

Louis and I immediately agreed. Zayn had been down lately. He needed something to look forward to.
"If Niall had been here he would have insisted that he would be the flower girl." Liam smiled sadly.

"Definitely!" Zayn agreed.

That put a damper on our moods. Sweet Niall would have been so happy for us.

Zayn threw himself into wedding planning in the week that followed while Louis and I made our first visit to the hospital wing. We sat there for hours holding the hands of men fighting for their lives. It was heartbreaking. Most of them cried and squeezed our hands, desperate for some human touch. It was devastating but I was glad to be there. Something as simple as a touch could be so healing even if it wouldn't cure them.

Others signed up as volunteers and we took turns. They weren't dying alone anymore.