Every morning when I wake up I'm thankful that it isn't my last, and I'm glad that I'm still alive to see the sun rise once more. As I lie in my bed I think about how fast my life has gone by and I wish that I hadn't done a lot of things. And I think about how my life would probably have been if I hadn't had the AIDS virus, where I would probably be and what I would probably be doing right now.

Then I sit up, pull the sheets off, slide my slippers on and walk into the kitchen. There I grab a bowl, spoon, cereal and milk from the refrigerator and sit down at the table to eat my breakfast. Then when I finish I put my bowl and spoon into the sink and the cereal and milk away and go to the bathroom to wash up. When I wash my face and look into the mirror I break into tears because I know that I am slowly dying and there is nothing that I can do about it, and that I have hardly any friends because they are too scared of me because they are afraid of catching the virus.

After resting a while I wipe my eyes and get ready to go out for my daily walk. I do this because it helps me clear my mind and it also allows me to think about my life and how it has changed. I think about what all the doctors have told about not having much of a future to look forward to. But I'm really hopeful that there will be a cure or a vaccine for this deadly disease so people won't have to suffer any more and they can live long normal lives and marry, have families and work at a regular job.

When I was younger I used to believe that having a boyfriend was very important, and it was always important to keep him happy because I didn't want to feel unliked by anybody. But this was my first mistake because it led me to the AIDS virus that has stolen away my friends and my dreams of a great future. After I found out that I had contracted the AIDS virus I lost most of my friends. I used to be the most popular person on the school grounds, but now hardly anybody hangs around me and it hurts to be alone.

Not long ago I turned twenty and I spent my birthday with my family and some of my friends who can see beyond the virus and give me a chance to have comfort for what little time that I have left. No matter what people think of me I am a lot more than just a person with the AIDS virus. I am still hopeful for a long life and a cure for this really deadly virus. Once in a while I also speak to students in schools about the AIDS virus and how it can be prevented.

After walking for a long time I feel a little better and I turn around and head home. When I reach home I take off my coat, make some popcorn, then I sit down and watch a couple movies. When I get tired of sitting around I go out for a while and have a pizza, or go shopping and do things that make me happy. I may even bump into some of my old friends and talk with them.

By Robert Pitka

When was

AIDS first

reported?

AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981. Since that time, more than 40,532 cases of AIDS have been diagnosed in this country as of August 1987, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, about 130 of the world's more than 160 countries have reported cases of AIDS.