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Elizabeth Jensen sat outside the clinic with her HIV test results in her hand. She stared down at it and nervously moved her legs as she waited. She heard the door next to her open, and she jumped up. She looked up at Zach and raised her eyebrows. "Negative." Zach Dempsey spoke, and Elizabeth let out a sigh. "But, we slept together before you and Justin got back together after he was homeless, so I was going to come up negative."
"We don't know that's when he got it, though." Elizabeth spoke, looking back down at her paper. "I was just really hoping that you weren't going to be positive."
"You?"
Elizabeth's eyes snapped up at her best friend. "What?"
"What are your results?"
The girl let out a deep breath, chuckling slightly. "Oh. Negative."
"See." Zach sent Elizabeth a smile, wrapping his arms around her. "You had nothing to be worried about."
"I mean, he didn't like not using a condom." Zach pulled away from the hug and furrowed his eyebrows. "Sorry, that's kind of weird that I just told you that."
Zach let out a breathy laugh. "I already knew that about him, but it was weird hearing it from you."
*
It was Graduation Day for the seniors at Liberty High School. They all sat out on the football field in front of a large stage where Principal Bolan and the speakers sat, with the bleachers filled with loving friends and family. "Graduation is that special time, not only to celebrate but to acknowledge the hard work and the countless sacrifices it took to transform dreams into reality." Elizabeth listened to the principal speak as she sat next to Isabel Henry. "And let's not forget the fortitude to carry on in the face of adversity. This graduation class has shown a special kind of fortitude. I admire you all." Isabel placed her hand on Elizabeth's knee, squeezing it gently. "You've been tested well beyond the classroom, and you have endured. Now, you may not believe me. Your class president and class speaker, in particular, may not believe me." Bolan let out a chuckle as he glanced back at Jessica Davis and Clay Jensen sitting behind him. "But all we have ever wished for, myself, the educators here today, all of your parents, all we have truly wished for is to see that you are all happy and healthy and safe. This class, in particular, has made that hellishly hard." Everyone in the audience laughed. "But I have faith in you. All of you. And I hope that we have taught you well. I know you have taught me." Bolan glanced down at his piece of paper before looking back at the students. "I am grateful, and I am proud of you all." The students all cheered as the principal was replaced by Jessica.
"Look, here's the thing." Jessica began her speech. "There should be more of us here." Elizabeth looked down at her lap, nodding. Isabel took the girl's hand. "And lately, I have been thinking about why they're not here." The girl let out a sigh before continuing. "I have a history of causing trouble with my speeches. Principal Bolan actually had to approve my speech just so I wouldn't make trouble." Jessica chuckled. "But that was a month ago. And my life has changed since then. But don't worry, I'm not causing any trouble today. Because I just want you to hear me. Some of you circulated a petition this year, demanding I be removed from office. Saying that I was a one-issue president, and I made my point, and I should just shut up. Well, no girls signed that petition." The audience laughed. "So news, boys, our point is far from made. And we're not shutting up." Everyone in the audience applauded and cheered for Jessica. "But you are right about one thing. I am a one-issue president. I am a one-issue person. I spent the last couple of years angry. Hurt. Scared. But I'm not going to do that anymore. I am going to focus on my one issue." She shrugged before making eye contact with her girlfriend in the audience. "Which is love." Isabel smiled as some students began laughing. "Oh, what? Does talking about love make you embarrassed? Is it girly? What? Because it is the thing. It is the only thing." She let out a sigh. "It is easy to hate. It is easy to fear. It's goddamn hard to love. But it is not optional. It's essential. It's life or death. I challenge you. Love each other. Do it. Do it better. Now and every day. I love you all." She shrugged. "Oh, and fuck the patriarchy." The students in the audience cheered as she left the podium.
