Strangers sit in the sterile waiting room. She pretends to read some gossip rag, idly flipping pages. He pretends to clean his fingernails, scraping at his hands. They each find the other attractive but are too buried in shame and fear to savor the brief shared glances.
For two weeks they have been waiting. Consumed by the terror of what the answer might be. Her nervousness is cloaked in betrayal. His nervousness is shadowed in minor pride. Both are overwhelmed by so much anxiety, that they can think of little else.
Their names are called almost simultaneously. He is taken to Room B, her Room D. "Negative, 100% negative. You are clear of all sexually transmitted diseases." The result is the same for both of them. It feels as if their lungs are just taking their first breaths.
Walking out of the office, he notices her step is much lighter. "Good news I presume?"
A bashful, "Yes," she replies.
"Me too. Such a relief."
"Yeah, I know. I don't think I've slept more than two hours since they tested me. You would think these days they could give you results immediately. They do it on TV all the time."
"I know, right? It's as if they want our sins to weigh on us while we wait, so that we are more careful next time."
"Uh... yeah," she mutters with sadness.
"At least it's over. I feel like I should be celebrating."
"It does sort of feel like I've just won something."
"I think I need a drink. First round on me. You in? There's a cheap bar two blocks down."
Her mind immediately begins working on the list of excuses usually prepared for this kind of situation, but she can't think of any of them. She does want a drink. She wants two drinks. Right now. "Fuck it, let's go."
She is surprised by her own language, and even more surprised she is accepting a drink offer from a complete stranger. It shakes up dormant energy she hasn't felt in months. It's just a drink, anyway. Innocent. She speeds up their walk to the bar.
By the third or fourth drink, all the tension of the day has been put to bed. "So, so...I gotta ask you. Why were you getting tested? You seem like a fit, healthy young man," she asks as she eyes his strong arms and powerful chest.