Midnight Musings: Javier Arias & The Lady in Red

About 17 years ago (during that time, cause my husband was still alive) I took a business course, and sat next to this young man. I believe he was from Equador…and his name was Javier Arias. Spoke broken english, and as we sat in class, we developed a friendship. He had long wild hair, curly…We became good friends, and the teacher ended up separating us because we were always giggling. As we began to learn about each other, I learned that he was gay…and that was okay…because we were friends…never anything more…loved laughing with one another. We were on the telephone ALL the time, as I learned stuff about the guy he was living with who was horrible to him. And about his mother who practically disowned him because of his lifestyle.

Our conversations and sharing stories about one another is very important - because, well…you’ll see in a moment.

My husband didn’t feel threatened by Javier, used to laugh at us cause we used to sit on the couch like silly school girls…and I would just run my fingers through Javier’s hair…and all we really did was laugh…at life, at his mother, at his horrible living situation with this guy who was really treating him like ish, but he had nowhere else to go…ergo, the business school so he could make a better living for himself.

One day, Javier just dropped off the face of the earth. About two weeks went by - and I didn’t know where he was - until a phone call awakened me from my sleep - and it was Javier’s voice…asking me who I was? I kept saying to him, Javier, it is me..Andrena…and he didn’t have a clue. He didn’t even know that Javier was his name! Told me that he woke up in the hospital and was told that he was found on the subway platform. And that he was at this woman’s house who told him that she was his mother…and that he was calling everyone in his phone book to try and find out who he was.

Javier had amnesia! It was the most amazing experience I have ever had! I couldn’t believe it.

We began from scratch…and this is where all the stuff he told me came in handy…because I was able to tell him about everyone in his life that he had told me about…it was simply heartwrenching. We became friends all over again…

and he would call me and sing: Lady in Red….”all the time” At least once a week…he sang that song to me.

We remained friends until my husband got sick and I became so overwhelmed in hubby’s sickness and my own diagnosis…and somehow I lost track of Javier….but I always think about him and where he is.

Visit Andrena at Getting a Grip On Grace where she often Muses at Midnight