“Yeah.” I look down at my rucksack, and then at my laptop, which is open on the floor, and my wallet and phone. There’s one sketchbook and a book about ethical curation poking out of my bag. “Yeah. This is it.”

“This is all of it?”

“Yeah.”

I don’t want to tell him about the suitcase. There’s something too tragic about it. I don’t want him to feel sorry for me. I want the situation I am in to come across as intentional. “I don’t like having much stuff,” I say. “I try not to be materialistic.”

Ben looks impressed. He raises his eyebrows and nods. “Cool.” He shuffles on the spot, putting his weight on one foot, then the other. “So, also . . .” He’s blushing. “I was wondering if you might fancy hanging out today or another day this week? I’ve got a deadline I’d love to procrastinate on.”

“Sure,” I say. “But, I’m starting my internship today, so I’ll be busy. I don’t really know how much time I’ll have in the run-up to the opening.”

“Ahh, no worries. Yeah, Shakti was really busy while she was at the Otter. Have they given you a schedule?”

I shake my head.

“Well, let me know. I’m here most of the time.” He smiles. “Okay, then,” he says, and then he points at the door with his thumb. “I should . . .”

“Yeah, thanks for the . . .” I say, and I nod toward the plant. I realize that the way Ben doesn’t finish his sentences has rubbed off on me and this annoys me. “. . . plant,” I finish, but it sounds odd now, tagged on like this.

“Nah, you know, it’s . . .” Ben shrugs.

I nod. Although, I wonder how this sentence ends. The first word that comes to my mind is “lonely.” I wonder if he realizes that I am lonely. I wonder if that’s why he’s come to visit me.

“So, anyway, make sure you water it three times a week and keep turning the pot so that all sides get a nice good bit of sunlight.” Ben grins. A nice, wide, goofy grin, and I can see not only most of his teeth but also his gums. They’re very healthy and pink. My mouth waters. I swallow.

“Lol,” I say.

“I’ll be around all day,” Ben says. “Probably till late.”

“Okay.”

And then he goes to the door and leaves.

I pull the chairs off the table, but leave the table where it is, directly underneath the fake plant. I unstack the chairs and sit on one, my laptop in front of me. I google “order pig blood online delivery London.”