Are there famous scientists? Tom asked. I don’t think I could name you one.

Emily rolled her eyes. Of course you could.

Don’t think so.

Stephen Hawking, she offered.

Yeah, but he doesn’t count, he’s dead. Obviously, I can name famous dead scientists.

Jo returned with Tom’s coffee on a little saucer—Ah, thank you, thank you.

Elon Musk, Damian said.

Tom snorted. Hardly.

I should mention that Jo was actually a former grad student of mine, Howard said, smiling at her.

Jo closed her eyes, a moment longer than a blink, as she wiped a strand of hair from her face. Yes, well, she said, I eventually realized academia wasn’t going to nourish my soul.

Looking around the room, there was something I found a bit creepy about sitting in a circle with other strangers. It reminded me of the Quakers, or an AA meeting. My discomfort was probably rooted in a disdain for religion and self-help and group therapy, which I knew was rooted in my own arrogance. And maybe in my fear of being vulnerable. That’s just how I was raised. I inherently mistrusted people seeking to be healed or helped or enlightened. Or maybe I just have a natural aversion to groups. To group dynamics, group think, group activities. I’ve always been wary of shared, collective experience. That said, there was something about Howard’s erudition and professorial charisma that somehow put me at ease.

I tried once more to catch Kyle’s eye. I wondered what he was making of all of this. I was conscious of him being a child in a room of adults. Not that he came across that way, though; he held himself with a subdued and mature confidence. I was sure that he would have some very funny insights about this group. I smiled, thinking of the impressions he might make of Damian, or Leslie. Tom and Emily were definitely a bit OK boomer. Personally, I felt myself sort of drowning in the conversation. It was the first time in days that I’d been surrounded by so many people; so many voices.

As if picking up on this, Howard brought his hands together and said, Listen, I hope you all don’t mind me just jumping into this. I know it can be a lot to absorb at first. I just figured this is what we all came here to talk about.

Your theory, Seema said, bluntly.

I’m sorry?

If I were you, Howard, I wouldn’t presume to know what we came here to talk about. With all due respect, you’ve been dominating the conversation since we arrived, and I barely know anyone in this room or their experience of this hum, which we’ve all been desperate to talk to someone about. So while I appreciate your thoughts, I would also like to hear from some of the others.