He starts to say something and checks himself. Then he says, “Feels like God isn’t listening, you know?” I nod. “Felt that a lot.” “Thing is, I don’t know which I prefer. To think that God is real and ignores me or to think God’s not real at all.” He takes a deep breath through his nose. I’ve never seen Alex look so despondent. “I’ve heard people say God sometimes doesn’t answer prayers because he has a different plan for someone,” I say. “You believe it?” Alex’s dryer buzzes, and he opens it and starts unloading his clothes into a basket. “I don’t know, man.”
