Fresh out of school, a young woman and her friends boarded a ship for a fun cruise. Hey, when you’re young, the world’s your oyster. There are so many things to see. So many experiences waiting for you.

The young lady,  vibrant and beautiful caught the eye of a gorgeous hunk. It was love at first sight.

Imagine being whisked away into a fairy tale romance, on a leisure cruise. The waters around, sometimes tranquil, other times tumultuous.

So he wasn’t a prince who had some kingdom at his beck and call but he was a perfect gentleman. Everything she could hope for in a guy.

He spoke of marriage. They would meet again after the cruise, to be declared husband and wife.

She gave in to the passion that engulfed them. They were as good as wed.

As the cruise ended, her lover gave a a beautifully wrapped gift, making her promise not to open it until she got home. Her heart leaped. Was it an engagement ring?

Once home and family hugs were exchanged, she rushed to her room, tore off the wrapping, eager to see the promise.

To her horror, the promise was one of death. The gift was a tiny coffin.

In it were the words “welcome to the world of AIDS.”

The lady, from Australia, shared her tale as a warning, hoping none others would be tricked the way she was.