Of course. This is how it’s always been. Suhani works while Natasha sleeps or drinks or captivates people with her bold humor. Some people can get through all of life being their carefree selves, while others, like Suhani, have to hunker down and work, work, work.

Natasha stirs. She’s wearing Suhani’s maroon flannel pajamas, which she no doubt fished out from the bottom of Suhani and Zack’s dresser. For a second, seeing Natasha that way makes Suhani nostalgic for high school, when in some ways life felt a little simpler.

But now she wonders if it really was simpler or if, with growing up and going through some shit, she’s become more aware, or maybe just more cynical.

Suhani starts picking up crumpled tissues, Reese’s peanut butter cup wrappers, and an empty Cheetos bag off her coffee table. A bowl of Cape Cod chips is dangerously close to the edge. The television is on the Netflix screen that reads are you still watching?

Suhani feels a flash of irritation as she throws the trash away. “NATASHA, WAKE UP!”

Natasha jumps up as though she’s been electrocuted. “Oh my God, you scared the crap out of me. Uh, hey.”

Suhani opens the fridge door. “Did you seriously finish my champagne?”

“Oh, calm down,” Natasha says. “I’ll get you another bottle.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Suhani says, too tired to argue. “So what have you been doing all day?”

She removes a bottle of wine from the pantry. Outside, the Atlanta skyline glitters like jewelry.

Natasha scrolls through her phone. “Just, you know, working on stuff.”

“Anything of note?” Suhani asks, torn between feeling sorry for her sister and feeling frustrated with her lack of initiative.

Natasha shakes her head.

Suhani avoids eye contact as she pours wine and arranges a slab of Brie, several crackers, grapes, and a tiny bowl of olives on a white marble cheese board. She pours another glass for Natasha and brings everything to the coffee table.

Natasha sits up and slathers Brie onto a cracker. “So, was work stressful?”

“Yeah.” Suhani takes a big sip of wine. “You know, the usual.”

“I wish it could get easier for you at some point. I feel like you’re always working. Always tired.”

“That’s just how residency is. Every single thing I do counts. If I screw up, someone can really get hurt. And I’m then forever a bad doctor.”

“You really need to let that worry go already,” Natasha says. “You are never going to be that. Ever.” She shakes her head on the word “ever.” “Damn, don’t you ever get exhausted just being so you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Suhani asks as she realizes it’s a variation on what Zack’s been telling her for the past couple of weeks.

“You’re so on edge all the time that it makes me anxious,” Natasha says. “Like, chill the fuck out already.”