The Test

New Year's Eve 2013. The setting is a bar. It is late... or early, depending on how you look at it.

Me: Before we make any decisions here about tonight, I wanna put out there that I'm HIV positive.

Handsome Fella: Oh. OK. I'm not. I really appreciate you telling me though. And I'm fine with that. 

Me: Cool. 

(beat)

Handsome Fella: You kind of use that don't you? 

Me: What? 

Handsome Fella:  When you tell people. It's great that you're up front about it but you kind of use it. It's like a test for you. To see how people react. You sort of judge them by their reaction. 

Me: ...Huh.