I contracted the virus from my partner with whom I had been living for two years.

I was 21 when we first met and I was about to leave for Fiji to study journalism, history and politics.

I was not aware of the contamination until I got sick in November [this year].

My partner got sick last year at the same time and although we had broken up just a few weeks before that, I came back to my country, Tahiti, and stayed with him for a month in the hospital.

I was never told about the origin of his sickness - neither from the doctors, nor from his own mouth, and only knew that he was very, very, very sick.

I never bothered asking him about his situation because I thought as partners we had shared so much in years that if there was something that I could be affected by, that he would tell me.

Well he didn't tell me at that time and, a year after, I became sick too.

In August this year, while I was in Fiji, I started having high fevers and I thought the origin of these fevers was my wisdom teeth.

My dentists had told me that as my wisdom teeth were growing, I would have fever and that I shouldn't be worrying.

So I didn't worry until it got really bad - to the extent that my doctor at USP refused to give me any more medical certificates and advised me to go to specialists at Suva hospital.

I actually got to the hospital on October 22 and thought that it would take me just one week to get back on my feet and get back to my studies so that I could get my degree in November.

I was wrong.

Everything suddenly went so fast and I got so sick that I thought it would be the end.

I prayed a lot and asked God that if he was to take my life, that he take me home first and allow me to see my family for the last time.

It was the only motivation I had to stay alive - it gave me the strength to carry on and to do my best to get back on my feet.

I flew home with my father and my brother, who came to Fiji especially to be with me.

Three days before we left Fiji, the doctor came to me and said that all the tests done on me had proved negative except for HIV/AIDS.

I must say that I didn't feel hurt or that sad.

I wasn't sad that I was HIV/AIDS but I just couldn't understand how I became contaminated by the virus and felt so guilty that I was far from thinking of it.

I felt guilty and I felt I should have given more attention to whatever I was doing.

I didn't know whether it was through blood transfusion or my relations.

I gathered all my family and told them what was happening.

I am glad and very thankful to God that I have a very receptive and supportive family.

The hospital put me on tritherapy which is the newest treatment that they have for HIV/AIDS people and also started a treatment with a friend of mine who has developed capacity in healing.

Recently I went through traditional medicine treatment which took me three days.

Today I decided to speak out because I realise how hard it is to get through this experience and I also feel that these others may not be lucky as I am.

I am lucky in a way that all around me, my family - aunties, uncles, cousins, parents, brothers - were all so receptive and gave me all the support.

Also my friends, I have now come to realise who my friends are.

I want to speak out because HIV/AIDS is not something that you get through prostitution, homosexuality or just casual sex.

You can also get it through stable relationships - a stable relationship which I was in and which gave me AIDS.

People should know HIV/AIDS is here.

I hope those with HIV/AIDS will have the strength to speak out for those who are weaker.