"I can smile at my body now..knowing what I know. Knowing that it has survived shame, stigma, and self-hatred. This body carried me through my darkest, loneliest days as I sorted through the rubble that my diagnosis left my life in. But it was there that I found the beauty in it all. The ability to love my body for its strength, it’s perseverance, and it’s innate power to provide me pleasure even through pain. My body and I can now look back and laugh about our lack of knowledge back then - how clueless we were to think that our life was over. Oh no, it was just beginning. Herpes didn’t ruin me. It gave me a damn good reason to connect with my body and my sexuality; and to finally allow myself the love I have always deserved."