What became increasingly clear from talking with both professors was that neither was sure how much they could publicly accomplish as part of this institute. The other professor, who was an astronomer, seemed happy to take the money from the donors, because it was fun to consider how these doors broke so many understandings of the universe, but also said they would be surprised if the money didn’t dry up within the next three years. Good for the CV, though, they kept saying. Their nail polish was golden and peeling. There was one other professor who had an affiliation with them, a religious studies and gender studies professor who was away researching in some archives in Indiana. Felix was enthused and dubious. The donors, as he put it, were rich people who wanted to find a way to become even richer by charging people to bring their dead loved ones back to life. They wanted proof the doors worked, consistently, then wanted to find a way to seize the means of production.

“Capitalism has people even wanting to get rich off grief,” he said while shaking his head.

“We are here to see and document the best way to engage with ‘spirits,’ with the doors gone,” Professor Collins said. “And whatever the donors do with that information, we have to learn to be okay with that.”

After another twenty minutes of chatting, Ayanna promising to let the religious studies and creative writing professor do a joint interview of her, Professor Collins said it seemed like the work studies were free to go for the day. They could put down five hours of work on their time sheets.

As Felix and Ayanna walked through the woods, Ayanna asked if he was going to hang out with her and Jane on Saturday. Felix offered Ayanna his arm as they negotiated some high roots and the slippery ground.

“Be careful with Jane,” Felix said. “As long as you’re friends, she’s the best.”

She wondered why he was saying this.

“She’s my friend. Maybe my best friend in the world,” Felix said. “But in a romantic relationship. Yikes if you want more than fun.”

He let go of her arm and looked ahead.

“Sorry. You just seem like you’re coming out of a really bad time. And people can change. But I’ve never met anyone like Jane who so absolutely does not want to be in love and knows it.”

“Do you think she really feels that way?” Ayanna asked. “Or is it an affectation? It feels like almost everyone on the soccer team thinks they can change her, and that’s part of the appeal. I kind of assumed she was leaning into the appeal of I-can-fix-her. ‘I can be the one who makes her fall in love.’”