Esther felt genuinely grateful that day because she had a class with Nelsy, which meant they could have lunch together. It didn’t happen every day, but she was thankful for moments like this. Moments when she could spend time with a friend and feel like a normal college student again, instead of always being alone.

The weather was perfect that afternoon, warm but breezy, so they decided to eat outdoors on the campus lawn, beneath the shade of a large tree. The air was calm, the sunlight soft, ...