A Gangster's Girl by Chunichi Read Free Book Online Page A

detrimental to her health. We all exhaled as the tension slowly left the room, and we continued to drink and trip out as before.
    Asia was not worried that her twins’ father would get with Linda. She was just upset that she didn’t have any idea about his other child. Even though she hadn’t known the twins’ father during the time he conceived this other child, it still made her mad. It shouldn’t have, though, because now he was doing ten years in federal prison. Asia was getting all his money and had a man on the side.
    Just as we were leaving to go out, there was a knock at the door, which was quite surprising since all of us were already there. Tionna opened the door and there stood Shawn, looking just as pitiful as the day he left. In his hand he held a folded piece of paper. He handed Tionna the paper and left without saying a word.
    Caught off guard by Shawn’s appearance, she was also anxious to know what was contained in the letter. Tionna quickly unfolded the paper and stood silently as she read. Her eyes scanned back and forth across the typed words.

    Dear sir/ma’am: We have reason to believe you have come in contact with someone who might be infected with the HIV virus. Please report to your city public health department as soon as possible for testing.

    â€œNooooo! Oh God, no!” Tionna burst into tears.
    As we crowded around and read over her shoulder, we all cried with her. We could not believe this was happening. Things were so perfect, and now this. How could this happen to someone we loved so dearly? It wasn’t fair. Tionna had only been with Shawn. They weren’t using protection because they supposedly had a monogamous relationship. She never worried about getting pregnant because her doctors said she would never have children.
    The next day, Tionna headed for the health department. The parking lot was filled with cars as she pulled up. With her head down, she walked in and handed the letter to the receptionist then looked around for a place to sit. There were chairs lined up in rows. The place was noisy and crowded. There were babies crying, mothers yelling, and nurses calling names every five minutes. She found a chair in the corner away from everyone and took a seat. She was afraid to get too close to anyone or touch anything because everyone, even the children, looked as though they were infected with some deadly disease. Tionna cried just at the thought of looking as bad as the people who surrounded her.
    After a few minutes, the nurse called out, “Tionna Davis, exam room three.”
    Tionna walked into the exam room and the nurse advised her to get undressed. Once the nurse left the room, Tionna pulled off her clothes and put on the paper robe. A few minutes later, the doctor walked in. Exactly what Tionna did not want to happen did happen. The doctor was a man and he was gorgeous. Not exactly who she wanted to see as she was getting checked for HIV.
    He explained that he would be doing an exam for STDs as well as taking blood to test for HIV. Tionna hated the pelvic exam. The feeling of that cold metal instrument was so uncomfortable. She tightened her muscles as the doctor inserted the cold speculum.
    â€œRelax, honey,” the doctor said while patting her knee. “Take some deep breaths and spread your legs.” Ugh. She cringed at his words. Spreading her legs was what had gotten her in this mess in the first place.
    She did what the doctor instructed and relaxed. It’s funny how we women are always hollering about a big dick, but when they stick that speculum in us, we tighten our thighs and nearly jump off the table.
    â€œAll done,” the doctor announced three minutes later. “I didn’t see any signs of an STD. You will be contacted, though, once the blood results are back. I think I should also explain that just because you received the letter does not mean you are definitely infected.”
    Tionna sighed with