Summary

In "Mass," the doctor told Alek he would need to "get a biopsy" of "the mass" (163). Alek was confused. He only had a cough. He did not want to believe anything was wrong with him. The doctor could tell him nothing about the mass until they did further tests.

On the way home, Alek "considered calling his brothers," Grigori and Igor (164). He opened up their group text on the bus. They had not "texted in months" (165). He remembered how cruel his brothers were to him growing up. They teased him about being gay, and were violent. Alek thought it had something to do with power. He wanted to call them, but he did not feel that love existed "between them" (167).

He got off the bus and started walking. He did not want to tell his mother about the mass. Ever...