HIVhomegirl tested HIV+ when she was 19 years old. She didn't know she’d had it from birth until she became sick and a doctor suggested she get tested. This is her story.

We had been dating for six months before we had first slept together. We had been so crazy in love. But when I tested positive, I freaked out and blamed him. Then he tested negative!

But there’s a window period of 3 months during which an HIV test may not give the correct result. Those three months were up and I was facing my worst fear again…

Could I have given him HIV? This question had been eating me up. So what had I done? I had ignored all his calls and texts. Not very mature. Sure I had also been really sick, but these were really just excuses… I just couldn’t face him.

It had been three months and I was sure he’d had his second test. I had to know if he was positive or not.

“Call him,” my mom said. “You need to know. We can handle it.”

I messaged him late that night. My hands were shaking. “Please tell me you are okay?” His answer was short. ‘I’m negative. Take care.’

Okay it was a brush-off but I only felt a huge relief. I hadn’t infected him. It was the best news in a terrible time.

I was so grateful that I hadn’t slept around and that he had been my first and only lover. Imagine having to tell more exes that I was positive and I could have infected them. I am not sure I would be strong enough for that.

It's your responsibility to get tested, and if you are HIV positive, not to pass on the disease to your partners. You can only know your status by testing. Will they get back together?

Look out for more of her story as it unravels.

To find out how HIVhomegirl got to this point click on the link below to start her story from the beginning ...