A new acolyte had answered the door for them tonight. Daisy was starting to lose count of all the different fresh young faces she’d seen in the house recently. There seemed to be a never-ending carousel of Brethren, some staying for days; some who came once, never to return; and some regulars with colorful belts and a casual attitude to yogic meditation, who seemed more interested in cookies and socializing than in discovering new poses.

Some of the more affluent initiates opted to hand over possessions in the Ceremony of Sharing rather than bringing friends or helping with housework. Brother Jacob seemed to have an infinite supply of console-related nonsense to hand over to the Brethren, but Daisy’s supply of goods was running low. Last session she’d brought in her favorite mug, hoping that the emotional value was significant enough to be considered worthy of Zoise, but Jasper had quietly taken her aside as she was leaving and explained that while worldly worth mattered not on the meditative plane, he felt that perhaps Daisy was not as committed to the Brethren as he had first thought.

Pressing the mug back into her hands, Jasper had given her a sorrowful look.

“If we cannot share, we cannot belong.”

“But what of the emotional value of my transaction?” Daisy had looked down at the rejected mug, the wonky daisy she’d painted on it as a little girl and the speech bubble that didn’t quite fit the words I’m a flower! “Doesn’t that count for something?”

Jasper had looked long and hard at the mug.

“I’ll be honest with you, Daisy. Emotional value usually corresponds to something more . . . appealing. Zoise desires more than a kid’s mug.”

Today, with Reggie by her side, some of that fear was assuaged. She was sharing. She belonged . . . but for how long?

When Elise sounded the gong, and the Pathway Unlocked, Daisy presented Reggie as her gift to the Brethren.

“This is Reggie. We study Archaeology together. I don’t think he’s alone in having anxiety about what course he’s on—”

There was a murmur of agreement among some of the others in the room.

“—but I know Zoise has helped release my anxieties, and it might help yours,” Daisy finished, looking hopefully up at Reggie.

The rest of the Brethren came into the circle to introduce themselves, exactly how it had been the first time she came. Warm and welcoming. A place that felt part of the university but safer somehow. Smaller and friendlier. And with really good cookies. Daisy smiled as Grace stepped forward and enveloped Reggie in a hug as if they’d known each other for weeks. Reggie’s hands flapped at his sides, but then he hugged her, too.

“You’ll love it here.” Grace pulled back and gave both Reggie and Daisy a fond look. “I’m so pleased Daisy asked me along. I never want to leave.”