Through smiling tears

Depending on where you stand 
HIV is a virus, 
a daily reminder of mortality, 
a story of defiant bodies and minds, 
of intimate betrayals, 
of smiling through searing pain, 
of scary 'body fluids'. 

HIV is a story of conquest
of stomach churning surprises
of a constant 'so-what' 
of unbearable and hurtful love
of living in a way that no one dies.