Sontag deliberately depicts sexualityin general as a key element in understanding the disease and its impact.

The title "The Way We Live Now" captures the lifestyle of a group of friends and a larger community who have fundamentally changed their perspectives and beliefs in reaction to the AIDS crisis. The characters grapple with their growing familiarity with death as their friend's health worsens and others become sick. It's significant that Sontag ends the story with "he's still alive," challenging the expectation that a narrative about a man with AIDS would conclude with his death. Sontag does not imply that the man will not die—such a claim would be historically inaccurate given the limited treatments available during the story's timeframe—but she deliberately concludes the story while he is still battling the disease. This underscores her argument that AIDS had become a way of life, affecting not only those who are infected but the entire community as well.

In the narrative, Sontag suggests a connection between language and survival. After receiving his diagnosis, the AIDS patient begins keeping a diary. Quentin speculates that this act of writing is a subtle way of "slyly staking out his claim to a future time." The story ends with Ursula noting the distinction between a story and a photograph: language's ability to transcend the present tense. She observes, "In a story you can write, He's still alive. But in a painting or a photo you can't show 'still.'"

Sontag further explores the link between language and survival through a conversation between Paolo and Stephen about the sick man's use of the term AIDS. They consider it a positive development when he starts to name his illness openly and casually. This is ironic because the word AIDS is never actually mentioned in the story. The absence of the disease's name implies that "the way we live now" is neither healthy nor truthful. In her book AIDS and Its Metaphors, Sontag seeks to demystify the disease by revealing the cultural myths that obscure its reality. In "The Way We Live Now," she demonstrates how such myth-making occurs even among the patient's closest friends.

The patient's interactions with his friends highlight how friendships can change during challenging times. The narrative explores the AIDS epidemic's influence on a circle of friends who unite when one member is diagnosed. Additionally, it illustrates that AIDS leads to profound life changes, not just death. Yvonne refers to the support system surrounding the AIDS patient as a "utopia of friendship," while Kate alters this to a "pathetic Utopia," indicating the constraints of how much their friendship can genuinely aid him.

The theme of friendship is intricately connected with sexuality, playing a crucial role in the bond that unites this group of friends. Throughout the story, they develop a shared identity focused on caring for a man afflicted with AIDS. Previously, this ensemble consisted of friends and romantic partners. Several individuals, both male and female, are revealed as former lovers of the man with AIDS. His bisexuality serves as a bridge between the gay and straight communities. The intertwined relationships within the group, including various affairs, forge additional connections of love and risk among both men and women, regardless of their sexual orientation.

As one character aptly states, "everyone is at risk, everyone who has a sexual life, because sexuality is a chain that links each of us to many others, unknown others, and now the great chain of being has become a chain of death as well." The perception of sexuality as safe and positive has been disrupted by the emergence of AIDS. While homosexuality is often linked to this stage of the AIDS crisis, Sontag deliberately highlights sexuality in general as a critical factor in the disease and its consequences.

In "The Way We Live Now," the complex web of relationships is deftly explored through the lens of a community facing the harsh realities of AIDS. The story unfolds as an unnamed man's friends grapple with his illness, revealing how deeply it affects each of them. Their interactions are a symphony of emotions, where the lines between empathy for their friend and introspection about their mortality blur. The narrative doesn't merely chart the progression of the disease; it immerses us in the psychological landscapes of those orbiting the afflicted.

Each friend's response to the situation is a reflection of their unique personality. Some are vocal, expressing their anxiety and fears openly, while others internalize their worry, struggling silently with the impending loss. This collective experience forms a tapestry of human resilience and vulnerability. As they gather, argue, and support one another, a shared quest emerges—a quest to find meaning and solace amidst uncertainty.

The looming presence of death acts as a catalyst, forcing them to confront uncomfortable truths about life and its fragility. Although rarely vocalizing it, their friend's condition serves as a mirror, reflecting back their own fears and existential contemplations. Through this profound connection, the story captures the essence of how illness can transform relationships, revealing both the strength and frailty inherent in human bonds.

Death reveals itself in myriad forms, each provoking a unique response, as Susan Sontag suggests. For some individuals, the prospect of death is something to avoid, as evidenced by friends who infrequently visit a dying companion, rationalizing their absence by questioning the depth of their prior relationship. On the other hand, there are those like Stephen, who seem determined to engage in an active battle against mortality. These individuals immerse themselves in medical literature, bombard doctors with questions, and spearhead efforts to prevent any surrender to the illness. Interestingly, few among the man's circle accept death with resignation. Instead, a prevailing sense of optimism lingers, as they cling to the hope that an imminent medical breakthrough might yet save their friend.

In today's world, many people find themselves gripped by fear and vulnerability, with stories of unexpected tragedies touching lives across the globe. One poignant example involves a seventy-five-year-old woman who, unbeknownst to her, contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion she received years prior. Such incidents highlight the pervasive and indiscriminate nature of the disease, underscoring a shared vulnerability that transcends age, race, and background.

This wide-reaching impact means that even if a person is not directly affected, they are likely to know someone close who is. This proximity to the disease fosters a landscape where discussions of ethics and personal behavior become prevalent. Friends and family members find themselves in constant deliberation, grappling with questions about how to live responsibly and supportively amidst the shadow of AIDS. The challenge lies in navigating these ethical dilemmas, deciding the best course of action for oneself while extending compassion and understanding to those afflicted.