Thrive

The(ir) Blurb...

Joe, a young gay man who is living with HIV, uses a dating app to arrange casual sex with a stranger, Alex. He is not looking for anything serious and decides not to disclose his HIV+ status to Alex. The two men share instant chemistry and intimacy, but after their sexual encounter Joe becomes withdrawn at Alex's suggestion of a date.

Whilst getting ready to leave, Alex is inquisitive about a bottle of Joe's HIV medication, which he has mistakenly left out. Joe feigns ignorance at first, but is caught off-guard when Alex outright asks him if he is HIV positive. Joe reluctantly concedes, explaining he is undetectable; he is not infectious and therefore cannot pass the virus on.

Revealing that he was only recently diagnosed, Joe is surprised by Alex's sympathetic reaction. He's even more surprised to learn that Alex has been living with HIV for many years. Alex affectionately offers advice on the rites of passage of an HIV diagnosis. Despite discovering such an unexpected, singular connection, Joe still lets Alex leave, but in a sudden change of heart he runs after Alex to take him up on a date after all.