“That’s a pretty sick joke,” Hannah had answered quickly.

“God, how I wish it was a joke,” Bess answered. “But, I was at this doctor’s today and he told me that…!

“Does your Mom know?” Hannah had interrupted.

“NO. Not yet,” Bess whispered.

Bess and Hannah had been best friends since they started first grade together. Bess had been going out MOSTLY, with the same boy for over two years. They had sex together many times, but Bess never worried. She thought she was safe because MOST OF THE TIME Dan was careful to wear a condom.

The most dangerous words that Beth had used were MOST OF THE TIME.

Even if Dan had worn a condom at all times, Bess would still have been at risk since she had multiple sexual partners. Having sex JUST ONCE with someone who, unlike Dan, did not use condoms can be deadly. Dangerous, sometimes deadly STD’s, (sexually transmitted diseases) don’t need second chances. One shot is all they require. That’s why MOST OF THE TIME is such a risky phrase. Perhaps Bess’ steady boyfriend could have been responsible for giving her Herpes. He could have given it to her on one of those occasions when they failed to have safe sex…when, in the heat of the moment, he didn’t waste time putting on a condom.  Not only teenagers, but also many, much older people take foolish risks when it comes to their sex lives. Think of the dumb, unnecessary risks friends of yours, or even your parents take if they drive after they’ve been drinking, or keep right on puffing their lives away when there is absolute medical proof that lung cancer, heart disease and many other serious illnesses are caused by smoking.

Having unprotected sex is a risk that’s different from the dangers of drinking, or smoking. In both of these situations you may well get a second chance. UNPROTECTED SEX JUST ONCE WITH SOMEONE YOU’VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME OR SOMEONE YOU HARDLY KNOW…DOES NOT ALWAYS GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE TO BE SAFE OR WELL…or even to stay alive.  Whatever you do, don’t trade some short-term gain (sexual pleasure) for some long-term pain (STDs)!