“Hey,” Eli calls after a while. I turn. “What?” “I’m proud of—” “Oh, stop it.” “—you, Maya.” I resume walking. Faster. “I’m proud of you, and you cannot stop me,” he shouts louder. “I’m not listening.” “Well, you should. Because I respect you as a person—” “Shut up!” “—and as a scientist.” I flip him off from over my shoulder. The last thing I hear, right as I start down the stone staircase, is my brother dissolving into laughter.
