HIV/AIDS

I watched as the fire died in her eyes. I knew it when she succumbed to the overpowering fight I felt it when the life drained from her cold fingers I felt her once lively arms go limp in my tightly-gripping palms I saw the very life seep out of Amber, my blue-eyed friend She fought desperately at first When she came down with the virus detected by the doctor's test She heeded the doctor's advice and took the prescribed drugs Joined us on adventures and leaned in for group hugs Did all she had to do and was always happy Told us often that we made her feel so lucky But then, she began retreating Like a sleepy snail, with an enticing shell, she began retracting I, her closest friend, tried so much to get to her But Amber, my dear, had gone so much far Then the doctor's complaints started And her parents continuously ranted Amber turned off her emotions and built walls around her mind I tried to break through those walls, but her heart, did I never find It got worse and transitioned into the much-dreaded AIDS She had given in already and did nothing to allay our fears On her death bed, she asked for her dearest friend My blue-eyed friend let me hold her hand till the very end For this cause, I did blame myself unendingly For, maybe, if I had fought it with her, she may not have ended so terribly Now, I have learnt a lesson and I spread the message Join in the fight and play safe in this new age For now, the present and for the future Let us all to the victims, become their constant savior.