Date: March 23, 1981

"Nico, are you sure about it?" Will asked. "This is the third cold you've had in a month. You keep getting sick and you're looking really frail."

"I don't need to see a doctor, Solace," Nico responded.

After Valentine's dsy, they had quietly gotten together. They often slept over at each other's apartments. To the outside world, they were really good friends, but in private, they were both friends and lovers.

      "Nico, I'm really worried about you," Will said. "Will you go at least for me?"

      His blue eyes were big as he spoke. He even pouted his lip. Nico resisted the urge to laugh. Instead, he sighed.

     "Fine, but only because you wanted it," Nico said.

***

     "Stick our your tongue and say 'ahh'," Dr. Asclepius said.

    Nico felt ridiculous doing so. Will was watching him and looking more anxious than he ought to be considering the fact he hadn't told Dr. Asclepius of their relationship. Nico glared at him and hoped Will would receive his message to act more nonchalant.

     "Alright, now I need to check your breathing," Dr. Asclepius said. "Take deep breathes. Inhale, exhale."

    He placed the round end of the stethoscope on Nico's back as he spoke. It felt cool against Nico's skin. When it moved, he felt a sense of relief in one area of his skin and coldness in another. Dr. Asclepius kept ordering him to inhale and exhale.

    "Ouch!" Nico said.

    He flinched as the words left his mouth. Dr. Asclepius had been checking his breathing. Why had he suddenly felt pain?

    "Nico, are you alright?" Dr. Asclepius asked. "Shall I continue?"

    Nico gritted his teeth and nodded. When Dr. Asclepius laid his stethoscope against the same patch of skin, Nico winced and gasped.

    "Hmm," Dr. Asclepius said.

     He let go of the stethoscope and instead pressed one finger lightly on the same patch of skin. Nico twitched.

     "Can I examine your back?" Dr. Asclepius asked. "I think you may be hurt."

    Nico nodded. He took of his sweater and laid on his belly. Dr. Asclepius said nothing for a couple minutes as he observed Nico's pale back.

    "You can get dressed now," Dr. Asclepius said. "You have a sore on your back. Do you know of any others on your body?"

    Nico finished pulling his sweater back on. "I have one on my thigh and another near my belly button."

    Dr. Asclepius clicked his tongue.

     "Nico, you've not been in the best health since I last saw you," he said slowly.

     "I'm sick right now," Nico said with a shrug.

       "But you said this was your third cold in the past month," Dr. Asclepius said.

      "It's just a cold," Nico said. "So what?"

      Dr. Asclepius bit his lip. He looked like a man who had seen far too much and could forget far too little.

     "Nico, this may come as a shock, but I think you don't just have a cold."

     "What do you mean?" Will said, stepping forward.

     Nico shot him a look, but Will's eyes were wide and he added, "Nico can't have it? Can he?"

      "Can't have what?" Nico demanded.

       Dr. Asclepius turned to Nico. "Nico, I believe you have gay cancer."