"When I was born," Zelgadis began, "I was very premature. My mother died in childbirth; she was diabetic, and knew that pregnancy might very well kill her. I wasn't allowed out of the hospital for a long time. Somehow, during that period, I went into respiratory arrest. The doctors had to operate to get my lungs and heart functioning again, but I lost a lot of blood. No one else in my family had my blood type except my mother, and she was gone. My father was terrified of losing me too, and prayed endlessly for a miracle. Then..."
He looked down at the food on his plate, which Lina was eyeing hungrily. With a sigh, he pushed it to her, and she devoured it happily.
"Then what?" she asked between a mouth full of meat-substitute and milk.
"Then my mother's father showed up." His tone became bitter, moreso than it had been before. "He had the same blood type as I did, and offered a transfusion. He... The doctors... Blood wasn't checked for things like HIV and AIDS back then, they started doing that about a year after I got out of the hospital."
"So how did you find out - "
"Grandfather was diagnosed with AIDS a few years ago," he interjected. "He died shortly thereafter; I think he lost his will to live. When my father found out that the old man had AIDS, he went and had me tested for it as well. I've had HIV almost all my life..." He exhaled heavily, as if the weight of the world rested on his slender shoulders.
Lina glanced around the room, analyzing how the other students shunned the pale boy.
"It's not your fault," she responded.
"I know, but it doesn't make it hurt any less." The life in his eyes was gone, melted into an endless cerulean oblivion. "Do you know how alone I am? I have no friends, and no family. Father is always at work now... He's trying to escape the nightmare that I am. He won't love me because he doesn't want to hurt when I die."
"I'll be your friend, if you like," she smiled radiantly, trying to break through his clouds of despair. Once again, Ice clashed with Fire. Only this time, the Ice melted.
"I think I would like that very much." His own smile was very faint, but present none the less. "Thanks, Lina. My friend."