HIV attacks a specific type of immune system cell in the body. It's known as the CD4 helper cell or T cell. When HIV destroys this cell, it becomes harder for the body to fight off other infections. When HIV is left untreated, even a minor infection such as a cold can be much more severe.
The resolution, or the moment when everything is fixed, in this story is the final sentence, when Jilly realized that she knew much more that just how to not drown the mint.
