“Yes! That’s the real problem here.”
Nick and Lexi have always been close; she’s only a year and a half older, and they shared a friend group growing up. Their suburb in San Bernardino was about as idyllic as a suburb could be, their parents easygoing and loving, now thriving in their retirement. The divorce had stunned them. They didn’t blame him or Kathryn, just wanted him to be okay, and to know that his childhood bedroom, recently converted to a yoga studio for his mother, could be reconverted back to a bedroom the moment he said the word.
He’s always felt tremendously lucky, eager to re-create that kind of family for himself. Summers at the local pool or camping in the national forest. Winters at the cabin in Mammoth Lakes. They had extended family close by, cousins and aunts and uncles, and he can’t recall ever feeling lonely as a kid.
But, as he keeps reminding himself, things change.
Lexi places a hand on his arm. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, okay? I’m sure you were great. You know her—she always takes a while to internalize things.”
And even though Nick’s circadian rhythm is beckoning him toward sleep, he stays up a little later than he planned, falling into easy conversation with his sister.
For a while it feels like they’re back at home with their parents, dreaming big dreams and unaware of all the ways the world would disappoint them.
From: Navarro, Nick
To: Wilder, Ramona
Date: Friday, October 2, 11:58 p.m.
Subject: Missing assignments
Ms.Wilder,
I trust this email finds you in good health. I seem to be missing your first three assignments, including this week’s on perception. The deadline to submit to the class portal was 11 p.m., so I wanted to make sure you were able to access it.
Best,
Nick
From: Wilder, Ramona
To: Navarro, Nick
Date: Saturday, October 3, 12:06 a.m.
Subject: Re: Missing assignments
Dear Professor Navarro,
Thank you for your concern. I assure you, I understand how to navigate a basic website. I submitted them earlier today, well before the deadline.
RW
From: Navarro, Nick
To: Wilder, Ramona
Date: Saturday, October 3, 12:11 a.m.
Subject: Re: Missing assignments
I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t.
However, I’m afraid I still don’t see the assignments.
-N
From: Wilder, Ramona
