Acceptance or Aargh!

Mark boards a crowded airplane, finds his aisle seat, wedges himself in and fastens his seatbelt. Beside him, staring out the window is a thin, sickly man. Mark extends his hand to the man.

“Hello, I’m Mark Smith.”

The man meets his gaze, declines his hand and introduces himself.

“Joe Smith.” He reaches under the seat in front of him, extracts a huge pill organizer. The thing must contain three dozen or more pills. The man answers the question in Mark’s eyes. “I have Aids, I’m HIV positive.”

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