I didn’t hear from Tyquan as much after that night and thought it was best. I wanted to end the relationship, I didn’t know if I’d remain in North Carolina after graduation. I didn’t know where I wanted to go but knew it wasn’t Jersey. Once in a while when Tyquan would cross my mind, I felt confused by his behavior and thought of the possibility of him dating someone else. I really didn’t care because I knew that I care for him the way that he preferred. But I did expect him to be honest about his bizarre behavior.
Less than three weeks later, I found my way in the doctor’s office waiting to be seen. I had vaginal burning and itching and didn’t know why. Lately, my body hadn’t been functioning properly. More specifically, my vagina was out of whack. I had unusual vaginal discharge and sometimes felt a burning sensation when I urinated. It could have been a bladder infection but whenever I got sick, I’d always think of the worst possibility as to what the diagnosis could be, so naturally I thought of an STD, which one, I wasn’t too sure of.
Leaving the doctor’s office, I thought to myself, I must have a sixth sense. Sure enough, it was an STD, gonorrhea to be exact. I didn’t get upset, I didn’t cry. I took it as a lesson learned and prepared to tell Tyquan goodbye, first I had to find him. The following day I stopped over at his place and was told by his grandmother, Mrs. Carey, that he no longer lived there.
“Matter of fact, he been gone for three months. Him and Alex got a apartment in town. Let me give you his new address.” His grandmother limped her way to the back of the house while I stayed outside at the front door. She returned with the address scribbled on a piece of paper.
“Thanks, ma’am.” I offered a warm smile.
Disappointed and confused, I drove almost a half an hour to the address given by Mrs. Maples, from Cary to Raleigh. It was actually my first time in the capital. I’d heard of the city and how it was progressively becoming populated by African Americans, but never had the opportunity to visit until this unfortunate event. After getting off 401 North like Mrs. Maples advised, I pulled up at the first fast food joint that I could find to ask for further directions.
Twenty minutes later, I was ringing a doorbell to a semi-kept garden apartment complex. I waited a few seconds before I rang the bell again, eventually hearing footsteps coming towards the door. The door slowly opened and there stood a short brown-skinned woman who obviously was awakened by my arrival. I studied her and could tell that she wasn’t a bad looking woman when cleaned up. She had crust in the corners of her mouth as she asked, “Can I help you?” with a snotty connotation.
“Hi, I’m looking for Tyquan or an Alex. Are either one of them here?” I tried sounding as friendly and non-authoritative as possible. I understood I was a stranger and could easily be circumvented due to suspicion.
“Yeah, both of ’em here. Which one do you want?”
That was easy! “I’d prefer Tyquan.”
“Who are you?” little Miss Crusty said with an attitude.
“A friend of his.” I had never established a relationship with Tyquan, he was just a bed warmer or company keeper when I needed it. The woman turned around to go get Tyquan.
She returned saying, “They back there…probably sleep. Go ‘head back there. It’s the one at the end of the hall.”