The following day my manhood was itchy but I ignored it thinking that it will be fine soon. The next day I had a visit from a girl I met on Mxit. As we were making out, my manhood got hard and it was so painful. This was strange. I tried to pay attention and I was disturbed by a bad smell that came from it.

I excused myself and went to the toilet. Damn, something was coming out of my manhood and the smell was unbearable. I tried to clean the mess but the liquid kept on coming out drop by drop. I went back to my room.

“Eish sorry joe, something came up and I have to go and attend it, it’s an emergence.”

When I was alone I called Siwe and I discovered that her sisterhood has been itchy too. So we both agreed that we should go to the clinic.

I went to a men’s health clinic in Woodstock.

“How can I help you sir?” Asked the receptionist.

“Is this the men’s health clinic?” I asked even though I knew.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“I think I…” I looked down trying to send a signal of what my problem could be.

“It’s OK sir we are not here to judge you but to help you, but we can only help you if you tell us what’s wrong.”

“I think I have an STI.” I said feeling ashamed.

“Have you been here before?”

“No.”

“Ok, please fill in this form after you are done the nurse will be with you.”

I checked my Whatsapp, there was a message from Siwe.

I got some meds from the clinic. Did you go?

I’m here filling in some forms. Did you get tested?

I put my phone in my pocket and I filled the form. I took it back to the receptionist and waited. After sometime the nurse called me to her room.

“First I will do an HIV test then you will go to the doctor.” She gave pre-counselling then took my blood. She gave me a lecture while we waited for the results. She told she was HIV positive and she asked me why am I was so reckless with my life.

“You are still young Sira. Do you know how it feels like to know that you gonna take ARVs for the rest of your life?! Don’t you want to grow up and have your own family?!” my eyes were filled with tears. I find myself praying inside my heart, “Please God, give me a second chance I promise I have learnt my lesson, from now on I will abstain.”

“You are HIV negative.” I couldn’t believe what the nurse had said. Tears started falling down my chin.

“Thank you Lord!” I said.

I went to the doctor’s room and she asked me about my problem. I explained to her. Then she gave me medication.

“Make sure you drink them every morning and every evening, don’t skip a day until they run out.” She said after I had drunk a big pill that she gave me to drink immediately.

I left the clinic and went to Woodstock Park to reflect on my life. I found myself wondering if guys like Sbu have ever experience such. I have heard guys bragging about having unprotected sex and the pleasure that came with it. But I have never had any of them talking about the consequences that come with unprotected sex. Or was I the only unfortunate one?

I remembered Nick Vujicic words when he said he is saving his body for the woman of his life – his wife, and then he asked a question, “Why go around sleeping with people you have no life intentions with? Just because of temporary pleasure? ”

I am not saying I won’t date again, but since then I’ve been a clean cat.

***

Tell us what you think: What’s your prevention method, abstinence or contraceptives?