I recieved this from a guest blogger. Another story reflecting the reality of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea.

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“Na Keks?” 

We would laugh together. Oh how we would joke and try to control our laughter for fear of waking up everyone. We did not laugh at our jokes but more to ourselves I guess because of our facial appearances. How the tears of laughter would come rolling down our eyes and how we felt our chests were about to be burst open. And how we would end it all by holding our aching tummies and seperate from each other so to calm ourselves down.

I am sure at times you feel or may have experience such. Yes those were the many memorable moments shared with you. I was blessed to have met and have known you, one of my many friends, a few that I hold close to heart. We were from different family backgrounds. You were the quite leggy pretty faced girl. You declined my few invitations to night clubs but accepted my invitation to my rented house and eventually met my family. My siblings found you so caring and fun to be around with. And I remember the many nights my sisters would force you to tell them stories. They so admired the way you carried yourself about. When I would go home (family house) they would ask, “na keks?”

I rember the time when you were there giving me every hope of mentally fighting for my one true love. It was during this time I knew who my real friends were. I took your advice and this is where I am today. The last time we met was in 2005. You wanted to spend the night with me at my new home. You heard that I was almost due to have my baby. We met at the planned location and you did all the shopping even though I insisted otherwise. You prepared the dinner for us that night. During dinner we filled each other with the latest happenings of our lives.

I left early for work the next morning, leaving you behind to sleep-in. When I came back in the afternoon I found my laundry done, my house swept and mopped and the lawn raked. I was more surprised when I entered my room and found a note with a twenty kina attached to it. You wrote – “thank you and wish you well during your labour and goodbye in-case i don’t see you off”. These are the few words I remember.

It was only last friday I heard the shocking news that you have gone to another world. I could not believe the news to be true, but the reality was you were gone, the uncurable virus had snatched you away. You could have prevented it, but it had no boundaries. I only hope you had recieved the card I posted last year. I wrote and told you that you were a friend, a true friend and a dear sister.

Keks, thanks for all that we have shared together during the little time we had known each other. Thankyou for the fresh vegies and fruits you would bring for me, thank you for the……. I could go on with the lists but I can not.

Keks Oo REST IN PEACE.