“Oh, that’s the worst part,” says Cali. “Well, one of the worst parts. There was only one other young cellist, Brian. I thought we were friends. There was never proof and of course he denies it, but he’s the only one I told about what Bellini was doing. I was so worried and I felt that if something really awful happened . . .” There was no need for Cali to elaborate on what that something really awful was. “And I’d never told anyone else about his creepy advances. I thought no one would believe me. And Brian benefitted, certainly, from getting me out of the way.”

“How has this man not gotten sued?” I ask.

“He’s a revered, wealthy white man. Does that not answer your question?”

“Yeah,” I say, “I guess it does.”

“The arts community is so insular and New York is such a small town at the end of the day. It’s one of those stupid things: the more you try to defend yourself, the guiltier you seem. People were all too ready to believe that I wanted to take advantage.”

“But even if you had had an affair with him, he’s the one who’s married, he’s the one who is in a position of power,” I say.

“Yes, if this were being tried in the court of women’s studies, I’d definitely win. Sadly, in the court of public opinion, the woman loses every time.”

I exhale. “Yeah, isn’t that the truth.”

For a moment, we’re both quiet.

“Sorry,” she says, “that was a lot.”

“No,” I say. “Don’t worry. I . . . well, not to make any of this about me. But I do understand. It’s a long story, but my career got fucked by a drama I didn’t create, so yeah, I get it.”

“I’m sorry to hear it, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I’m playing hard at being the carefree expat. Some days I almost believe it. Other days . . .”

“Don’t you miss playing?” I ask. I suddenly see more clearly why I was so drawn to Cali, even though neither of us had been forthcoming about our pasts. She has the sheen of the extraordinary. She knew what it was like to give her life over to a singular goal, only to see it swept away in one catastrophic incident. I feel something similar to what I’d felt with Luke and Blair all those years, like I was with my same animal. “You must have worked your whole life to get where you were.”