I did manage to meet someone, and told him what had happened, and while he praised my honesty and courage, he did not believe that I, in his words, "was worth the risk." A week later he changed his mind and we began dating, (mostly because I felt at that point that was the best I could hope for). We were together for a month before I ended it. I've been single since, and don't really have the desire to see anyone new right now. My ex and I have become best friends since, we do hook up from time to time, and all in all, while it may not be a fairy-tale, it works for me. I'm a pretty happy person. I still continue to model, I have someone who's supportive and understanding and satisfies my very very high sex drive (which having herpes didn't change one bit lol) without the pressure of a relationship.

Three days ago my second outbreak began to manifest itself (only my second in almost a year, and again I suspect it was caused by a mild abrasion in my vagina). I can't say why I've been so lucky - I've been exposed at one point or another to nearly all the risk factors for outbreaks since my diagnosis: stress, sunburn, low resistance, you name it. This outbreak is coupled with a throat infection and is proving to be EVERY BIT painful as the first, which to me is somewhat depressing, as I read that subsequent outbreaks aren't supposed to be as bad.

So that there's my experience with genital herpes. It's not your conventional story but I hope I provided another perspective for people out there.