My name is Lili. I am 10 years old. I live in Kondele in Kisumu. I am HIV positive. I live with my mother who works at night. I don’t know what work she does but she goes to work at night leaving me locked in the house. I am on ARV treatment and it is very bitter.
When mum comes back in the morning I ask her to help me take the medicine but she is sometimes too tired to help me so I end up not taking the medication every day. When mum goes to work at night I sleep alone in the house. I used to be very scared initially but nowadays I pray and feel better before I sleep. I keep listening to footsteps passing by the door because I know there are bad people out there who attack children. When mum leaves I ensure I have locked the door properly. I stopped going to school when I was 7 years old because the teachers wanted me to pay some fees, buy school uniform, shoes and desk. Mum could not afford these. So I stay at home while other children go to school and when they come back I go to play with them. I hope one day I will also be able to go to school like them and get new clothes for Christmas. I also hope one day my mum will sleep with me at night so that I don’t get scared.
I also hope that one day I will have school fees, school bag, books and uniform and a desk so that those teachers who sent me away can accept me back in school.