Becky

My name is Becky I am 22 years old. I grow up receiving so much attention from both my parents. My parents take me to the best schools around. I complete my primary education successfully and proceed to secondary school.

This day I visit my friends. I stay longer than usual. I get home late. Mum insists that I have to get water from the river. It is late but mum is not joking. Because of fear, I have to go to the river. It is 7.30pm and dark already. On my way home, I meet these three men I cannot see clearly, they attack and gang rape me. I am injured and my parents take me to hospital. I receive post rape care and am sent back home. It is one year since the traumatizing experience of rape. I don’t feel well. I feel weak, tired and sickly. The matron in school thinks I am pregnant but I am not. I am back for my December holidays. I am still sickly. I take courage to go for voluntary counseling and testing after reading magazines about other ladies who went through the same ordeal as mine. The counselor tests me and he tells me I am HIV positive. I become unconscious for 4 hours and when I get conscious I feel really terrible. My parents are very supportive. I join support groups and I am started on the life saving drugs.
I am glad I know my status because with the support I get from my parents and support group Lean on me I can live positively and achieve my life’s goals.