Credit goes to the book "Hawkes Harbor" by S.E. Hinton.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Cody, it's okay. Calm down." Mr. Wu pulled me into a hug, rocking me back and forth. He spoke quietly. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't answer, for I was sobbing into his shoulder.

He rubbed my back, his voice soothing. "It's okay. You're okay. It was just a nightmare. It's not real. No one's gonna hurt you anymore." After a while of comforting me, he said, "Are you okay now?"

"Yes, sir." I was still crying.

"You sure?"

"Yes, sir."

"You wanna lay back down?"

"Yes, sir."

He gently pushed me away as I wiped my eyes and sniffled.

All of a sudden, the door opened to reveal Melissa.

I knew there was something special about her, even if I didn't remember what it was. I think I…loved her.

"What happened? I heard screaming," she said.

"Cody had a nightmare."

"You feeling better?" She looked at me.

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's good." She took a seat.

I wondered where I was and why I was here. But Master had taught me not to ask questions. So I stayed quiet.

Mr. Wu seemed to have read my mind. "The doctors ran some tests."

I hope he'd continue to tell me the results so I wouldn't have to ask.

He did. "Cody?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I've got some bad news."

After a moment, I force myself to ask, "What is it, sir?"

He hesitated before speaking. "The doctors found out that you were diagnosed with hepatitis B and cirrhosis."

The room was silent.

Melissa and her father watched me closely.

All of a sudden, there were two swift knocks on the door. A nurse stepped into the room.

Mr. Wu got out of his chair. "Any more news?"

"Yes. Can I speak with you two in the hallway for a minute?"

Melissa and her father stepped outside.

I lay there, wondering what the nurse had to say and why she wouldn't say it in front of me.

What if she was telling them that I wasn't going to live much longer?

I started breathing fast, worried.

Melissa stepped into the room, tears falling from her eyes.

I am going to die.

"Cody, we have some more news," Mr. Wu said.

"Am I gonna die?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"No. You're not gonna die." He came to stand next to me, putting his hand in mine. He sighed. "You tested positive for HIV."

My voice was barely above a whisper. "What?"

"Uh, that's not all." Mr. Wu looked at me uncomfortably, then shifted his weight to his other foot as I waited expectantly. "With all of the forced sexual activity…" He sat on the bed next to me.

"What is it?"

"Cody, you can't ever have children of your own."

It took a moment for his words to sink in.

But when they did, I broke down. I removed my hand from his and put both of them over my eyes as the tears fell.

I leaned my head against the window, watching as the rain poured from the gray sky.

Why is this happening to me?

Maybe I was being punished for causing Master to go to jail.

Maybe it was because I was a bad dog.

The nurse had told us about HAART treatment. Mr. Wu wanted me to try it.

All of a sudden, my head started pounding.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a bottle, and unscrewed the cap. I pulled out two pills.

"Cody?"

I looked up to face Mr. Wu's reflection in the rearview mirror. "Yes, sir?"

"Are those the right ones?"

I read the name on the bottle. Frustrated, my voice was barely above a whisper. "No, sir." I put the pills back as I pulled out another bottle. I checked the name before opening it and pouring two pills into my mouth. I swallowed with my saliva.

"You gotta pay attention, Cody."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."