Part 4: CD – True to Her Love
In my group of misfit-creative friends in high school was CD. She was a year older than me and was also a childhood friend of my buddy DV. CD was very artistic and extremely knowledgeable of a wide range of music. She was a staple at all the parties and in the alternative scene at the time. She loved her tribe of foundlings. CD was quirky, intelligent, fun and was known to not hold her liquor too well. But she was always polite, apologetic and slightly embarrassed about it, even when inebriated.
After high school, she went to college and we started hanging out in different circles, leading our own semi-adult lives and I didn’t see her too often. DV, however, remained in regular contact with her and would convey the “say hi to CD for me” messages on my behalf. CD fell madly in love with a guy, married him and had a child. While still in her early 20’s, she was one of the first people in my circle to have a child. According to DV, she and her husband had moved back into the old neighborhood and she loved being a mom.
Fast-forward12 months. It had been a very bad year for me, filled with a major depression and the very painful break up of my relationship. During that time I had withdrawn from many of my friends and had made only occasional contact with DV. He called to tell me the terrible news of the previous months.
CD’s husband had been sick in the hospital and the doctors wouldn’t give her any answers about what was causing this sudden severe illness. He died quite quickly. Afterward, the doctors finally told CD that it was AIDS. She was shocked and wondered how her husband had contracted HIV. None of the plausible answers were very comforting.
Shortly after her husband’s death, a 26-year-old with a baby at home, CD tested positive for HIV. Knowing that she might not have much time, CD set about making arrangements for who would raise her child after she passed away. Just like her husband, the disease took her very quickly. Their child had lost both parents to AIDS within 18 months. He was not yet 3 years old.
[...] Part 4: CD – True to Her Love [...]