Love Story: “I found love through the Katrina disaster”

By: Laura Bennett

On August 29, 2005 was the worst and best day of my life. The worst because I lost everything I owned. The best because I met the love of my life (Tyiron Joel Clayton). I met him through Hurricane Katrina at a hotel in Galveston, Texas that goes by the name of "Gaido's Seaside Inn". This is the story of fate and how love will find you no matter what. I wasn’t looking for him and he wasn’t looking for me,but somehow we found each other. I saw him by the pool and said to myself his is going to be my boyfriend. I asked my cousin, Carlise, was he taken. He told me was single, same age as me, and was from New Orleans. My cousin introduced to him and we talked about everything. Everyday I would go to the pool to be around him .I stayed at the hotel for about a week and when it came time us about to leave I thought I'll never see him again. Come to find out in Galveston the have only one high school. So I was happy to know I was still going to see him even though I wasn't staying at the hotel anymore. Me, my grandmother, my grandfather, and my cousin moved in with this nice family that fed us and gave us clothes. After about couple days, my aunt decided it was best we move to Carthage, Texas. My cousin stayed behind with her mother and I left to help my grandmother with my disable grandfather. I wrote a letter to Tyiron and told my cousin to give it to him when she started school. Time went by and I missed him so much.

One day my cousin texted me and said Tyiron was acting like he didn’t know how I was (she was just playing I didn’t know that though) so I told her to tell him I don’t know him either and it was over. I didn’t want it to be though because I believe we could have a future together. Time went by and finally in October we moved back to Galveston. Even though we weren’t together I asked my cousin where he stays now. She said “Island Bay” I thought it was another hotel. So I get to my mother’s apartment complexion and its name was “Island Bay” also. I was like wow they have an apartment complexion and a hotel named “Island Bay”. I got out the car to help my mother unpacked the Uhaul truck and I saw him helping my mother unpacked. It was crazy!!! I was like is he following me or is this meant to be. I started school and asked my cousin was he single. She said “No”!! She said she see him around with some girl. So I asked him never told me. I decided to write him a letter and gave him my number asking was he taken. Still no respond. So one day in the hallway I saw him and asked him to tell me the truth. He said, “Yeah”. My whole world came down. I was so hurt.

Time went by and in November he moved to Clear Lake. I thought he was happy with his new girlfriend and maybe it wasn’t meant to be. It was New Year’s Eve and I was ready to move on and find love. Then I got a call. My cousin answered the phone and I asked her who it was. She said “Tyiron”. I got the phone from her and we started talking. He said he was in his closet looking for some pants and he saw this piece of paper on the floor that fell out his pants. It was the letter I wrote him along with my number on it and he decided to call. He said him and his girlfriend broke up and he was calling to see how I was doing. Around 12 o’clock he said he wanted to ask me something. He said he wanted to start the New Year off right and asked would I be his girlfriend again. My heart screamed “Yes!!!!!!” and I told him “Yes”. We have been together even since then and each day gets better and is full of love. I love him to death!!!!

- New Orleans Love ‘08