Mosala and Doctor Zwane sit across from one another at the clinic. The doctor takes Mosala’s hand in his.
DOCTOR ZWANE: And 3, 2, 1.
Mosala flinches as the doctor pricks his finger to draw blood. He is visibly nervous.
DOCTOR ZWANE: There we go! All done.
MOSALA: That’s it?
DOCTOR ZWANE: Yes, that’s all I need from you. Now the HIV test will do its magic; we’ll know the results in a few minutes time. You can relax now.
MOSALA: How am I supposed to “relax” in a place like this? I used to have nightmares about hospitals…
DOCTOR ZWANE: No man, hospitals are where you come to get better!
MOSALA: (under his breath): I don’t like hospitals…
Enter Nurse Simpson. Her entrance is sudden and energetic.
DOCTOR ZWANE: Morning doctor! Happy Tuesday!
Mosala gets a fright and the nurse lowers her voice.
NURSE SIMPSON: (to Mosala) Oh, sorry my boy did I give you a fright? Come now, no need to be so down in the dumps this early in the morning.
The nurse goes to open the window.
NURSE SIMPSON: Although who can blame you? You can hardly breathe in here. Doctor Zwane can go a whole day without opening a window! No wonder your patients are so sickly. That’s much better, isn’t it?
DOCTOR ZWANE: Thank you, nurse.
NURSE SIMPSON: How can I help, doctor?
DOCTOR ZWANE: Mosala here would like a glass of water. Won’t you pour him one? I’m just busy finishing up his test.
NURSE SIMPSON: Of course yes. I can see he looks a bit pale in the cheeks.
MOSALA: Thanks nurse.
DOCTOR ZWANE: (trying to change the subject): So Mosala, tell me about this girl you mentioned. What’s her name again?
MOSALA: Sinazo.
DOCTOR ZWANE: That’s right, Sinazo. Where did you meet?
Nurse Simpson passes him a glass of water.
MOSALA: We met at a protest against gender-based violence. In front of the Parliament building.
NURSE SIMPSON: Aitsa! Good to see the youth fighting for what is right.
MOSALA: It was a big protest, there were hundreds of people. I went with some of my friends from college and didn’t think I was going there to socialise or anything like that, but I met Sinazo through a mutual friend and we just started talking. The conversation flowed nicely, you know? She’s very clever though, much smarter than I am. That’s why I’m here now, because we had this long, deep conversation about sexual health and safety and when she asked me if I had gotten tested I… I lied and said yes.
NURSE SIMPSON: Oe, men will say anything once the hormones have kicked in.
MOSALA: I don’t know what happened. It just came out. The way she asked made me feel like I should’ve gotten tested already and I just panicked.
DOCTOR ZWANE: Don’t worry my boy, that’s understandable. What matters is that you’re here now. And that you and Sinazo are having these conversations in the first place. You know back in my day we would never talk of such things. It was a different time.
NURSE SIMPSON: It’s true, Mosala. We never dared to speak about sex and least of all sexually transmitted diseases when we were young. This Sinazo girl sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders.
DOCTOR ZWANE: Why did you not get tested sooner?
MOSALA: I don’t know, I was afraid I guess. Afraid of the hospital, afraid of what they would tell me. I’ve never shown any symptoms and none of my friends got tested so I never thought it was necessary. I always thought I was fine.
NURSE SIMPSON: Well, my high school boyfriend lied to me about going to soccer practice in the afternoons when he was actually making out with Christina Davids behind the pavilion! A far greater betrayal.
Doctor Zwane and Mosala laugh, before the doctor suddenly goes quiet.
MOSALA: (alarmed) What is it, doctor?
Doctor Zwane takes off his glasses and Nurse Simpson, sensing what has happened, goes to sit next to Mosala.
DOCTOR ZWANE: Mosala, I am so sorry, but your test is positive…
The patient is speechless for a moment.
MOSALA: (in disbelief) No, but how? I don’t have any symptoms?
DOCTOR ZWANE: Some people don’t show symptoms immediately. But this is not the end of the world, Mosala. HIV is very treatable nowadays.
Mosala’s face drops into his hands.
NURSE SIMPSON: (softly) This does not mean you won’t be able to live a very normal life. I know it must be a big shock, but you are going to be alright. Trust me.
The nurse takes his hand. Doctor Zwane gets up from his chair
DOCTOR ZWANE: We’ll give you a minute to yourself. Shout if you need anything.
Exit Doctor Zwane and Nurse Simpson. Mosala is left alone at the end of the scene.