Sethi, who reminded me that my body’s alarm system had a reason for being on high alert.

“You don’t have to convince yourself you’re fine,” she said.

“You’re allowed to recover at your own pace.”

I didn’t feel brave.

I felt embarrassed that everyone knew I had been found by a ditch.

One afternoon a package arrived from Simone.

Inside were printouts of our algebra notes, a scarf she’d crocheted badly enough that it leaned sideways, and a card signed by several classmates.

One wrote, “We’re saving your seat.”