Air Clinic: AIDS Is Real, It Kills

"Where are your parents?"

Ben looked up from what he had been sketching towards the new student.

"Dead"

Ben replied him guessing he was the only one who had not gotten the memo.
“Oh, I am so sorry” came the reply.

Ben watched him walk away awkwardly.
Ben did not mind him asking, after one year, he had gotten used to the fact of not having his parents around during PTA meetings.

Last year, it had just been his mom with him. His dad had travelled offshore for work.
Ben knew what killed his parents, even though the adults had tried hiding it from him. He was eleven years old after all and no longer a kid.

His parents had died of AIDS.

His dad had always had a thing for the ladies, that was what Uncle Dennis had called it.

His unfaithfulness had led to his death and that of his wife.

Ben now lived with Uncle Dennis and his wife, he was not really comfortable living there, but of course he had no option, he was now an orphan.

He stood up from his seat and walked away from where the other students were discussing with their parents. He turned towards the school notice board and brought out the water gum from his pocket.

He carefully gummed his sketch to the wall and walked back quietly to his hostel.
The new student who had been watching him from a distance rushed to the notice board to see what Ben had just put up.

His sketch read… AIDS IS REAL. IT KILLS.

Word Count: 266

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