Sorority Sisters by Tajuana Butler Page B

was a knock at the door. “I’m dressed,” Cajen said. Dr. Anita Mitchell walked in with the serious look that most doctors seem to have, whether they are delivering good news or bad.
    “Cajen, I’m sorry, but I don’t have good news. However, we can’t be one hundred percent certain until we get the test results back from the lab tomorrow.” She paused. Why is she pausing? What could possibly be wrong with me? It must be AIDS! I have AIDS!
    Seeing the stricken look on Cajen’s face, the doctor assured her, “It’s not fatal, but you seem to have contracted the herpes virus.”
    “The what? Herpes? What . . . what is that? What’s wrong with me? Virus? Oh . . . oh, no.” Tears formed in Cajen’s brown eyes. She could not believe the diagnosis. She had heard of herpes, but was not familiar with the ramifications of contracting the disease.
    “Cajen, one out of five women has herpes. You are not going to die from this disease, but it will be annoying. Herpes comes in the form of blisters, and it’s just like the common cold. When it is active, you are extremely contagious. But when it’s inactive, there are no symptoms, and you are probably not. I do recommend, however, that you use a condom with your partner even if you are not having an episode, because you still may be contagious. Also, it’s the nineties, Cajen, and practicing safe sex is important. It cannot only prevent annoying diseases like herpes, but also unwanted pregnancies and AIDS.”
    “Active, inactive, episode. You mean that this is something I’m going to have for the rest of my life? There’s no medicine that I can take to make it go away?” Cajen could not fully grasp what the doctor had said. This couldn’t be happening to her.
    “Unfortunately, herpes is one of the few sexually transmitted diseases we do not have a cure for yet. However, it is manageable, and I will give you a prescription to get filled. You can start taking it tonight. This drug will help to shorten the time span of your episodes, and it has also been known to decrease reoccurrence. I will also give you some pamphlets to read so you can become better informed about what you’re dealing with. Also, I’m going to suggest we go ahead and have you take a pregnancy test and an AIDS test.”
    “Why? Does herpes turn into AIDS?” This was too much for Cajen. She couldn’t hold back her tears. Then she thought about Jason. He was going to cause her to die, and he didn’t even love her. How could he have had sex with her without using a condom? Did he purposely give her this disgusting disease? He hadn’t even called her since they’d had sex. How could she have been so stupid? Why didn’t she just make him use protection?
    “No, it does not mean that you have AIDS or HIV. I just think it will be a good idea, just to be safe.” Dr. Mitchell looked at Cajen. She seemed concerned, more like a friend instead of a doctor. “You will need to inform your sex partner or partners, because anyone that you have had intercourse with will need to be tested.”
    “I only have one sex partner,” she said between sniffs.
    The doctor handed her a tissue and asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”
    Cajen tried to wipe the tears away, but they kept coming. “Kind of, but he is the only person I’ve been intimate with. Dr. Mitchell, do you think he knows that he gave me her . . . herpes?”
    “Well, there is a chance your boyfriend doesn’t know he has herpes. There have been cases, in men especially, where there were few or no obvious symptoms. But, Cajen, that does not mean that he didn’t know. How long have you two been sexually involved?”
    “We were only together once. I can’t believe this. What am I going to do?” Cajen stopped crying and looked at Dr. Mitchell, hoping she would tell her something that would make it all better.
    “You’re going to be fine. Your life is not going to end with this virus. You are going to be just fine. You will just have to make sure,