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“Okay…” I said unsure if I should feel disappointed or worried.
“The game I set up for tonight is going to be a little different.”
“You mean like a strategy game? Is that why no one showed up?”
Titus smiled. “No. It’s a scavenger hunt.”
Relief washed through me. “Oh! Cool! I love scavenger hunts.”
“I know you do. And this one has a theme.”
“Okay,” I said wondering what was going on.
Titus pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. I took it unsure if I should open it.
“It’s your first clue.”
I hesitated seeing the sincerity in his eyes and then slowly read it.
“Go to the place where your Grandmother first told you that you were beautiful the way you were.”
I couldn’t breathe. My stomach shook. And before I could get a word out, I exploded into tears. The theme of Titus’s scavenger hunt was the love my Grandmother had for me. I fell into Titus’s arms sobbing uncontrollably.
“I can’t. I can’t,” I said overcome with grief.
“I’ll be here with you. I’m not going anywhere,” he said holding me tighter.
I stayed in his arms as long as it took for me to pull myself together. Wiping my eyes I said, “I guess I should attempt to play your game… you sicko.”
Titus chuckled. I was glad he did because I didn’t want him to think this was anything other than the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for me.
“So, let me see,” I said reading the instructions again. “Go to the place where your Grandmother first told you that you were beautiful the way you were.” I thought about it. “Well, that had to be after I told her I was gay.” I narrowed my eyes on Titus. “Did I even tell you about that?”
With his usual smile, he shrugged.
“Clearly, you’re not going to be any help. But if I went to where my Grandmother told me that, I would go to her library. Are we supposed to drive to her estate?” I asked Titus.
He didn’t respond.
Staring at him further, I said, “No. But, you do want me to go to the library. I’m right, aren’t I? That’s where I’m supposed to go?”
“You’re supposed to be so good at games,” Titus quipped. “You tell me.”
“Oh, I see what you’re doing. Okay. We’re going to the campus library.”
“Lead the way,” Titus agreed.
Feeling more alive than I had in a long time, I rushed out of my place almost sprinting across campus. Approaching the glowing four-story building, I saw a familiar face outside.
“Quin, what are you doing here?”
Instead of saying anything, he smiled and handed me my next clue. I read it.
“Find the book your grandmother would always read to you after your mother said cruel things to you.”
I lowered my head and fought back the tears as I remembered the vile things my mother would say.
“She was always my defender. She was the only one who didn’t make me feel like I was the worst person in the world.” Falling into tears again I admitted, “I miss her so much.”
