"Even if you could, it wouldn't change anything, would it?" Zed reasoned softly. She could recruit an army of moms to stand in line and they could each try to put him in his place, but it wasn't going to take the exposure away. It wouldn't cockblock the chance that he could be Positive now. He was aware of the enormity of all this, though in a way, he was glad he wasn't in a relationship that this would impact on. But then, if he had been, he wouldn't have run away to Vegas and got messed up with an infected hooker(s?) If he had been in a loving relationship, he might have had someone to run to. Someone who could hold him and tell him it would be alright. He had never had that, and he wasn't sure he ever would now either. He could feel the emotion building inside, the tell-tale tickle in his throat trying to warn of tears. He didn't let them fall. He swallowed back the lump in his throat and kept his bloodshot blue eyes trained down on his fingers toying anxiously with the zip on his jacket.

He shifted in his seat because he was aching all over and just in general discomfort. "I guess that depends on what your definition of 'the end' is. In a lot of ways, it feels like I've been there for a long time. I'm incredibly aware of how shit life can. I'm incredibly aware of how hard it can be. I'm incredibly aware of what crippling emotions feel like. I'm incredibly aware of what being completely alone feels like. I'm incredibly aware of every level of pain. I'm incredibly aware of what it feels like to be hurt by every person you love. I'm incredibly aware of what being kicked in the nuts feels like, physically and metaphorically. Do you want me to keep going?"