In 1986, Wayne’s life was always busy. He lived in Jamaica Plain, Boston, and worked as an administrative assistant for a legal office, as well as volunteering on a housing project. “I was helping to stop evictions, challenge rent increases, fight for rent controls and support residents,” he says.
When he started to have sinus problems, he booked an appointment at a local health centre to get tested for allergies. “They gave me a scratch test, but I didn’t have any reaction. It turned out I had sinusitis and it was nothing to do with allergies.” On the way out, he spotted Aura in the waiting room. Although they volunteered for the same housing projects and had seen each other around, they had never really spoken. “She’d had the same allergy tests as me and was all swollen up,” he says. “I said, ‘You look terrible!’ – because of all the swelling, which I now realise wasn’t the smartest thing to say.” Luckily, Aura wasn’t offended. “I’m really laid-back and not easily insulted,” she says, laughing.
