themselves. I choose not to tell my work colleagues because I don't know how they'll react."
"It's much worse for him than it is for me," adds Cleo. "I've
got people that I can talk to. And he hasn't."
Tony is aware that living with Cleo's HIV has also affected him positively.
"It has changed me quite significantly as a character," he states.
"I think I became a much more rounded person as result of our relationship
and her status, because it made me appreciate more how other people feel."
HIV isn't the be-all and end-all of their relationship, however.
"You can't deny that it does play a part," says Cleo, "but
it's not something that we think about on a daily basis. We live a normal
life. The only time we really think about it is when I'm not feeling well."
For them, being in a serodiscordant relationship appears to work well.
"I was single and I thought I would never find a relationship, never
thought I was going to get married," says Cleo. But it can happen."
"I know it's easy to say, but we found each other," adds Tony.
"If you do meet the right person, then HIV status shouldn't get in
the way."
page 7 of 7
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