I've Got It and I'm a Scientist

by Jericho
(U.S.)

I'm a scientist, specifically a chemist, and I have it. I'm writing this now currently while in the tail-end of a recent outbreak. I haven't had an outbreak in over 5 years, and it happened right after I caught a really nasty cold. Just goes to show you that if you take great care of yourself it goes a long way...


I first found out that I got it when I started getting involved in a sexual relationship with my current fiancée. She is the only girl I've ever fell in love with, and since I'm marrying her, she will be the last girl also.

We engaged in oral sex while she actually had a cold. In the middle of her cold she also happened to have a flare up of a cold sore, which inevitably touched my penis. A few days later I had itching and noticed odd bumps on it and several days later saw a doc, but tested negative, presumably because I had no antibodies at the time.

I was understandably extremely angry at her, and I prayed to God to not end my life then and there at the tender age of 21. I found out that she has had cold sores since she was in middle school, so it's not her fault. I don't blame her and when we both came to terms with it; we decided "Hey, it's not going to kill us. We'll just need to be careful."

Contrary to how EVERYONE thinks, everyone that has this virus is not dirty or a slut or loose. I'm a scientist, and I have it. My fiancée is a teacher and she
has it. Everybody has it, it's just life, there's nothing to be ashamed about, and that’s just how it is.

I haven't had an outbreak in over five years and I'm not on drugs, but just this damn cold caused it to rear its ugly head. It's uncomfortable, but after 8 days of having this outbreak, it's been healing nicely. The point of my story is to tell that not everyone who has this is dirty or immoral. It is unfair, but such is life.

The best thing to do is to always remind yourself that if it doesn't kill you, it will certainly make you stronger. I've grown a little bit more cynical and painfully realistic in terms of my point of view of the world since I found out I was infected. In some cathartic way, it was like a rude introduction into adult life and the reality of life in general.

Bad things do happen to good people. Just like I stated above, "if it doesn't kill you, it will certainly make you stronger", it really is about picking yourself up off the floor even after the very worst has happened, dusting yourself off, and keep going.

Despite this one setback, I look at all I've accomplished so far. I speak and teach a foreign language fluently, I've made discoveries as a scientist and chemist, I have a very supportive and understanding fiancée, and I am also an instructor of martial arts. This infection is such a small part of my life that it's just an annoyance. An annoyance that will leave just as soon as it comes.

There's always hope so long as you're alive.

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