Curtis was next. He was the brains of the group. He’d won the National Spelling Bee at nine, the second Black kid to ever win the competition, the first from the atrocious Mississippi public school system. He had a near perfect SAT score and been offered scholarships from every Ivy. He’d accepted NYU not for academic reasons, but because it was the only school that had a congregation of his small, obscure religious sect nearby. After classes all day, he attended services two hours every other night. He didn’t use alcohol, didn’t take drugs, didn’t swear, and didn’t even drink caffeine. And he’d struggled with the loose ways of NYU. He and Matt had long talks late at night about religion and Curtis’s battles with temptation. Matt had told him that he needed to have faith in his faith.

“I’m praying for you, my friend,” Curtis said as he pulled him into a hug.

“I know you are,” Matt said, his voice breaking. “I think I need it.”

The only one missing was Ganesh. He was always the loner of the group. In his contradictory way, he loved a crowd but kept everyone at a distance.

Matt surveyed this group of people he loved. On the exterior, each was objectively attractive. He could almost imagine them in a remake of Felicity (a reference only Kala would get), good-looking NYU students out to take on the world. But like life, each was more complicated. Ganesh called their group the “Island of Misfit Toys.” Sofia chided him, since the reference was from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which she thought was racist and homophobic for reasons Matt couldn’t comprehend.

At last, Matt said to the group, “Thank you for coming. It means a lot.”

There was a chorus of we’re here for you, whatever you need, and the like.

“If you don’t mind, I’d love to get a shower and some rest.…”

The group fumbled around, collecting their things. They had another procession of hugs at the door.

Jane hung back. After the last mourner departed, she said, “Where have you been? I was worried. I called everywhere, and you weren’t answering your phone and Ganesh ignored my texts and—”

“I’ll tell you all about it. But I could use a little time to myself.”

Jane’s face crumpled. “Matt, I would’ve never— If I knew, I wouldn’t have—”

“I know. It’s okay.” He waited by the door, signaling that she should go. He didn’t want to do this now.

“It was a mistake,” she said.

Matt gave a fleeting smile. “No, it wasn’t.”

“Let’s talk.” It was plain she wasn’t leaving.