I felt the searing pain in my veins, a burning, aching desire to do something, anything that would stop the pain. I knew the cause: syphilis. I’d been warned about the consequences, the damage it can do, but I hadn’t heeded the warnings. Now, I was living with the results.
I felt more and more isolated, and the burning anger, regret and shame were driving me to deeper despair. I went through the motions of day to day life, while my health steadily deteriorated. I was too embarrassed to seek treatment, and when I finally did summon up the courage to go to the doctor, it was too late.
The disease had already taken hold, consuming my body and mind, and in the end, it was too much for me to bear. I was the sole victim of this horrific symphony, brought to its fateful conclusion by syphilis.