It was silent as first in the car. Liam squirmed in his seat as if he wanted to tell me something, but he didn’t. Finally though, “Joel can I tell you a secret?”

“Sure.”

“But you can’t tell anyone, especially Mom, promise?”

“I promise.”

“Ok,” Liam took a deep breath, “Mom and I have AIDS .” I tried to act as surprised as possible, “Oh my God, how did she get it?”

“Well Mom didn’t tell me….but I know I got it from her…but all day now I’m going to be worried about her. I mean, a simple cold for you guys can, to us, be-”

“Potentially Fatal.” I repeated myself.

“Exactly. I think after school we should go to the hospital, just to make sure she gets all the care she needs.”

“Ok.” This was unbelievable. This kid, being 10 years old, knows too much. In fact, he seems more like a 35 year old to me. But that probably has to do with the fact that….well…Liam might not make it to 35.

I decided to try and clear my mind of death then…for it was too depressing.