Lily was rocked by the blow. "Mom, what did I do?"
Barbara clutched her chest, shaking with rage. "Slut!"
Like something had dawned on her, Lily snatched up the report that had fallen to the floor. The instant she saw the word HIV, it hit her like a slap, and she stumbled back a few steps. "No… this can't be… how…"
She grabbed the nurse's arm, her voice shaking. "How could I have HIV? You've got it wrong! I get a full checkup every year and nothing's ever come up!"
"What did you say?!" Her voice went shrill, and she whipped around to glare at me. "Claire! Why didn't you tell me you had HIV?!"
I put on an innocent look. "Mrs. Sterling, what are you talking about? You're Claire. You're the one who's got it—why are you blaming me?"
Lily's face went red, then white, over and over. She to
