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| This is the essay series by women living with HIV. The authors in Japan,
Cambodia, Portugal and the Philippines, write about episodes and the
feelings of their daily lives. |
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| H (hito : human) I (ai : love) V / Riiko |
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 My life changed dramatically when I became HIV positive. It was too serious a situation for a teenage girl. I totally understood what was meant by the expression: “The future looks hopeless.”
Nearly 15 years have passed since then, but everything around and about me today is by far better than what it was 15 years ago. The world has changed, and so have I. Now I understand how wonderful it is to think about my future and live with dreams and goals in my mind.
How many people have helped me before I reached where I am now? Up to now, with the support of many people, I have been able to overcome a number of problems I could not solve in any way by myself. At one time, I avoided making friends with others, withdrawing into myself, but today I love people and really enjoy meeting them.
And all of the people I met are really wonderful. In particular, a network of HIV-positive women is an extremely valuable asset for me. I can really relax myself when I talk with them over a meal or drinks. We talk about husbands or boyfriends, job-related stress, what we are interested in recently, good restaurants we have been to, and sometimes even serious subjects. I am proud of my gentle, lovely friends, who understand others’ pain because they have bitter experience from the disease.
I feel human love through HIV. Now it is my turn to give support to others in return for what I have received from friends. |
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