Testimony

What I'm going to do with this test is turn it into a testimony, my testimony.

So yes, I am 24 years old with HIV. Yes, I have to wake up every day and take medicine. But other than that, what has changed absolutely? Nothing other than my mindset. I begin to think about things more thoroughly and not just jump out at everything, taking whatever risk I can take because I want to.

A few months after finding out I had HIV, I downloaded an app back on my phone called POF because that's where I used to find guys to hang out with and have conversations. But mind you I said I have begun to look at things differently. So I begin having a conversation with a guy and he was talking about how he wanted me and we should meet and hang out. And I'm like, how can you want me and not know me? And he's talking about that doesn't matter we can get to that later, I like what I see. And I kid you not, it rubbed me the wrong way, and I was just typing without thinking like, I could be a serial killer, I could have HIV or something, and you wouldn't know because you can't even take time to get to know me before you just get in my face to do who knows what. And it had to make him think cause then he asked me all the questions I just mentioned, lol. And I truthfully told him about the HIV. I don't know what made me do it, but I did. And that was the first time I actually talked to someone about it other than close family and friends. And it felt good because he wanted to hear about my story and learn more.

I don't know if it made a difference to his mindset but at that moment I was proud of myself because I could see and feel the change in me. Because being young, I usually would have met up with that guy and did who knows what. But because of what I've been through - finding out about the HIV and stuff - I made him and myself actually have a conversation and get to know each other.