Nov 13, 2007 18:33
Yesterday, I met one of the most awe-inspiring people I will probably ever meet.
Cain's had AIDS for over 20 years now. He was diagnosed as a teenager (given three years to live), and his family pretty much abandoned him because they couldn't deal with the fact that he was dying...and yet, he's probably one of the most stable and contented people I've ever met. He said it was almost liberating, accepting the fact that you are at the edge of death. He knows what he believes and what he stands for, and although it's dangerous for him to leave his apartment, although a cold could kill him and a scrape spells DOOM in big capital letters, he's just happy. He's hilarious and honest and intelligent and is apparently one of the best hairdressers in Texas. He was supposed to die before twenty. Now he's over the hill. He's obsessed with twins, and told me to bring Chrissy by his apartment sometime.
He said he consumes over $10,000 (street value) of drugs each month.
He said that he waited in a solitary room watching a clock on that last day of the three years, waiting to die.
I can't even imagine what that must feel like.