Summary

Karina sits next to a student who has not practiced, waiting for him to play his piece. Dylan shies away from the keys, afraid to make a mistake. Karina usually helps, but this time she only waits. Dylan sniffles with a cold, and should not even be near Richard’s compromised immune system. The first note in Dylan’s piece is “middle fucking C,” the first note any student learns (183). On another day, Karina might blame herself, but today she lets her student carry the blame.

Richard coughs and she waits to see if he will clear it on his own. His sudden silence inspires both hatred and dread. If Richard were caring for a dying Karina, he would be worshiped for it. Richard coughs again and Karina goes to his room, takes a pillow and places it over his face until he...