She watched every step of the nurse as she waited for her lab results. She was nervous and hadn't slept a wink since her blood sample was taken the previous day. She heaved a sigh of relief when the nurse walked over and handed the envelope to her. She smiled quickly in acknowledgement and rushed out of the lab.
This was the first time she had done an HIV test and she was itching to know the results.
Honestly she had been with quite a number of men before meeting Eddie. Married men, colleagues at her work place and a few SHS students she mentored were on the list of 38 men she had had sexual contact with in the first 25 years of her life. She had a brief relationship with a lesbian as well.
Louisa was not proud of her past and the many sexual escapades since she didn't have any reason for endulging in them. It was a secret life she led behind her young and innocent looks. The last time she tried to confide in her pastor to help her get out of it, he condemned and rebuked her even before she completed her confession. She had hated the life she lived but at the same time couldn't fight the urge to sleep with any man who made the offer.
Not until she met Eddie. He was good looking and was very friendly with her the first time they met. He was a bartender and she had gone for a drink.
They had a long conversation which both of them enjoyed. The friendship grew ‘without sex’ for a year before they decided to become one in marriage. Though Eddie had an idea of her past, he loved her unconditionally and reassured her of his love.
He supported her through counselling sessions that helped her overcome her urge to have indiscriminate sex and also came to accept Christ into her life.
Eddie was a saviour and she loved him deeply. His meagre salary was not important as he was the first person to love her the way Christ did.
Louisa looked at the envelope and wondered what the content was. She tore it open and hurriedly looked at the result and exclaimed loudly. It was positive!
The dreaded option was bare in front of her. She heard her name and turned around to see Eddie walking up to her. As soon as he got to her, she fainted in his arms.
Louisa woke up to see scores of people around her. Eddie isolated her and comforted her as she cried over the test results. Eddie took a look and laughed out suddenly. The result she had was for one Louisa Mettle's pregnancy test. She was Louisa Newman. She hugged her ‘saviour’ with a broad smile on her face. She was so relieved.
They returned to the lab and got her actual result. She was very hesitant and didn't want to open it. She handed it over to Eddie and closed her eyes. She was shaking and couldn't sit still till she felt his warm lips on hers. She felt confused. Was it positive or negative? Their lips finally parted and his huge smile said it all. She was HIV negative! The relief she felt was overwhelming. She went on her knees and cried her heart out in thanksgiving to God.
She couldn't have imagined how her life would be if the last 10 minutes had turned out otherwise .