Puncy had become terrible ill. Her mom had taken her to the doctor so many times, yet no medicine given, ever worked. She was getting thinner and thinner each passing day, her limbs becoming motionless and her eyes sunken.

Death now, seemingly tugged at her nightgown sleeves begging her to come along, but within that frail body of hers are eyeballs that bore a look of defiance, a penetrated symbol of resistance searching for a glimmer of hope.

Her mother’s church members visited often. Countless hours were spent in fasting and prayer, yet, nothing changed. No miracles. Time slowly begins to erase the memories of a not so long ago time when Puncy was a vibrant, bouncing teenage girl, energetic, helpful, thoughtful, scholastic and robust. Now here she lies, unwillingly awaiting the inevitable conqueror of life.

Martha her mother has not left the bedside. Puncy is her only child. Her eye- watered soaked face displaying a mother’s love. There is simply nothing much more she can do, other than to comfort her dying child and so she takes Puncy’s right palm in her hands while gentle resting her head to Puncy’s right ear, uttered these words, “Though you walk through the valley of the shadows of death, fear no evil, for God is with you always, His rod and His staff will protect you.”

At that moment Puncy’s eyes wondered around the room as if in a daze and slowly the lids of her eyes closed. The muscles of her face relax and as the last breath of air slips from her lungs the onlookers wept.

The life Puncy had lived has finally caught up with her. Habits earlier formed sure did a great repercussion to her future. Now she is added to the statistic, another AIDS victim caused by unprotected sex. In the words of Buju Banton, “Rude bwoy don’t be silly, PUT some rubbers…not but some rubbers pon you wily, AIDS a go run an you doan waan ketch ye. Life is precious and you have it to live make sure you noh become HIV positive.”