Continuation IIIThe following day, her mother insisted she escorted her to the saloon which she did. It was in the saloon the second turning point began. While her mother’s hair was being made, some female students were also there making their hair. One of the students was telling her friend about another student who of recent was found to be HIV positive when she popped my topic. She asked her if she new me and then told her that I was also HIV positive. She continued narrating my bad deeds, the students I have been seducing to bed and those I was unable to.
I learnt from Dr. Hyacinth to never talk in public especially sensible matters or rumours. But the devil sent student blew everything not knowing the damage she has done. But who could blame her when she was just excising one of the abilities of women. Nobody in the saloon knew my wife talk more of her mother. I was not home when they both came back, but when I got back, I didn’t like what I saw. My wife has finished packing her things and was about to go with our kids. I hardly lie to her though I occasionally do. I questioned ‘what is this all about?’ but tears were her answers. I pleaded but she refused to talk to me. At that crucial moment her mother interrupted asking me why I have not been faithful to my wife. Also that she felt embarrassed and regret coming when that little brat opened her mouth narrating nonsense.
I was shocked and surprised how the news rolled round. For once my wife had never suspected me sleeping with anybody talk less of students. But over one sunny day she was given the nuclear news of her life. I tried to lie over the matter, but as a scout looking at them narrating the lies there was no single eye to catch the attention. My wife has closed her eyes crying, my kids especially Junior was also crying while her mother was facing the other side waiting for her to come along. For the first time I had nothing to say to my lovely God sent wife.
Everyone who knows me knows I am a man who has a strong spirit about living. In a situation like mine, any man would only plead. Turning thinking you’re the family head would only end one up in a more difficult situation. I was speechless. To plead which I know would have change things today I did not. I stood helplessly not knowing what to do. At my site my wife, my kids and my wife’s mother walked out. Tears rolled down my chicks as I held Junior but she gently pulled him away. Who could ever thought or bring to mind that my loving wife would leave me? I don’t blame her till date, I broke my home, and I took the chance that bought me these lucks. In a while after six months I was sacked from the university.
I lost a lot of weight, could not go for lectures, could not attended any function and more to it was the recent discovery of me being HIV positive and the students case. I was all messed up. I had to move out from the university quarters. I moved to a one room self contain apartment. It’s a compound with about fifteen rooms including that one of the landlord. I had the money to get something better, but I reserved the resources so that when I die, my kids could have something to leave on, though they are with their mother but I feel it is better I leave something behind. From then things became pretty ugly. Anyone who sees me would not have to think twice to conclude that I was an AIDS patient. The environment no long need people like me, when I go to buy anything in the nearby shops they often show faces disgust, more especially when I handover the money to them. This was why I hardly come out atimes. My neighbour later built the courage to face me and called me ‘dead man walking’ that sometimes when I spend three or more days in my room, he often come to peep through my window to know if I was still alive. If there was any better description to give was ‘dead man walking.’ It is true I am dead; the bony body was all that was left with the eyes that would direct the body where to lay and a thin flesh. One evening after I learnt of the death of my disturbing neighbour, I was unconsciously walking by the road, I heard from distance my name, turning I found Dr. Hyacinth not up to six feet away from me, but when I heard the call it seemed like a hundred or more meters away.
I really don’t know what happened then, but one thing I know I ended up with Dr. Hyacinth in a hospital. Dr Falame was Dr. Hyacinth’s good friend and a psychologist. Before any diagnosis Dr. Falame concluded that I was suffering from emotional distress and probably some diseases. After some days, I was back in my senses again. Dr. Falame was upfront with me and so I was to him. I told him everything happening in my life. Dr. Falame told me that my problem at that moment was not HIV, and that my mind hasn’t’ been at ease making me to loose. He took me under his personal care and kept me busy for roughly two months, after which he told me to look at myself in the mirror. I was surprised at what I saw in the mirror, it was a better me. I had taken shape back to myself. At that minute, he told me that it is true I am HIV positive but I could live a long and a very happy life if I take all the precautions and have in mind that HIV could do nothing if the precautions are taken. He advised me to be attending HIV forum which people living with HIV often go to share there experience. Today it’s been two years and few months since I met Dr. Falame, no one can tell you today that I ever went through what I have been through before. I have regained my weight, better I can say. I also have been going to the forum where I have been hearing the most remorse stories of individuals. But along came a story no one could bear to withstand the pains driven by its sanity when at first their thoughts were vanity.
