"Hey Mom." He replied, his voice sounding a little hoarse, and he tried to smile.
Diana, however, was trying not to cry. He was badly bruised with many cuts and gashes. One of his eyes was half closed. Zac noticed this.
"Don't worry Mom. I'm sure it looks worse."
"I find that hard to believe. I was just talking to the doctor about... oh how could they do this to you?"
"They were bored." Zac answered simply. "And they were losers with no lives and nothing better to do with their time."
Diana couldn't smile.
"Mom? Is Luke ok?" he asked quietly.
Diana choked out a sob.
"Mom?"
"Zac, honey... Luke is... Luke's in a coma. He was badly injured sweetie, and he's lost a lot of blood. He... he might not make it."
"No... please no."
"There's, there's something else too."
"What?"
"They... they're worried... you know how Luke had AIDS?"
"Yeah..."
"They're worried that, well, with all the bleeding you two, umm, did... well, they're a little worried your blood might have mixed."
Zac was too shocked to say anything.
"They're... they're going to do a HIV test on your blood Zac." Diana sobbed. "I... I... I felt you had a right to know."
There was quiet for a moment.
"When will they know?"
"A few weeks."
More quiet.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Please, keep me up to date on how Luke is. Please?"
"I will Zac. I will."