Nothing about this can be rushed without risking the answers.”

In the meantime, Wyatt and Austin struggled with ordinary life.

Their apartment still needed curtains.

Their electricity bill arrived with an amount neither expected.

Wyatt had a shift at a bookstore; Austin started his first semester at the local college.

Between classes, they argued over whose turn it was to wash dishes.

One night Wyatt called me furious because Austin had eaten the leftovers I’d packed for him.

I almost laughed with relief.