AND YOUR HEARTS WILL REJOICE.”

Jared looks at Justyce, and then back at the headstone. He wipes his eyes. “How’s it goin’, man?”

“Sorry for interrupting,” Jus says.

“It’s cool. Kinda nice to have someone else here. Merry Christmas, by the way.”

“Same to you.”

Jared exhales. It fogs up the air in front of his face. “I still miss him so much, dude,” he says, his voice breaking. “It’s been almost a year and I still just can’t—I’m sorry, man, you don’t wanna hear all this.”

“Nah, it’s cool.” Now Jus’s eyes are moist. “I understand, man. I really do.”

“He’s never gonna visit me at college or be my best man, you know?” Jared shakes his head. “When I first got to the dorms, my roommate was already set up in our room. Guy looks up at me and goes ‘ ’Sup, homie? Name’s Amir Tsarfati. Call me A.T.’ ”

The impression Jared does makes Justyce laugh. A.T. was his chem lab partner this past semester.

“Anyway, he’s got some music on, and I kid you not, Justyce, the guy’s playlist went from Deuce Diggs to Carrie Underwood.”

“For real?”

“Yeah, bro. I thought to myself, ‘Manny would love this guy.’ ” He sighs again. “It’s just hard. My grandma died when I was a kid, and my mom told me, ‘She lives on inside of everyone who loved her.’ Prolly sounds stupid, but I really want that to be true about Manny. It’s why I come here every time I’m home. He was my first real friend. I thought we’d grow old together and shit, you know?”

Jus doesn’t respond. There’s nothing to say.

For a few minutes they stand in silence. Then: “It’s good to see you, man,” Jared says.

“You too, dawg.” And Jus really means it.

“Is it weird that we don’t see each other at school more?”

Jus shrugs. “It is a pretty big place.”

“That’s true. How do you think you did in Marroni’s class?”

“I did all right. Probably A-minus at the worst.”

“Figures.” Jared looks at Jus and grins.

Which makes Jus smile. Just a little.

“So…” Jus clears his throat. “Did you pick a major yet?”

“I did,” Jared says. “I decided I wanna go into civil rights law instead of business—”

“You did?”

“Yeah. My dad just about shit himself when I told him. Anyway, I took an Intro to African American Studies course, and it really blew me away, dude. I’m thinking about minoring in it.”

“Damn. That’s pretty dope,” Jus says. “So you’re liking Yale overall, then?”

“Loving it. How ’bout you, man? You enjoying it so far?”

“For the most part. My roommate’s kind of an asshole, but you can’t win ’em all, I guess.”

“Carothers, right?”

“That’s him.”

Jared nods. “He was in my calc class. I’ve heard some things. Your suitemates are cool, though?”

“Yeah. They’re great. Prolly wouldn’t survive without those fools.”

Jared laughs. “That’s awesome. Mine are cool too.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“So how’s SJ?”

Jus can’t help but smile now. “She’s great, man. Loving New York.”

“You two still going strong?”

“Oh yeah. That girl is gonna have my babies one day, dawg.”

Jared laughs even harder. “Awesome.”

“Don’t tell her I said that. I’d never hear the end of it.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“You got a girl up there yet?”

“Nah, bro. Lotta fish in that Ivy sea. Can’t limit myself.”

Jus snorts. “You sound like Manny.”

“Pffft. I wish. That dude was a titan with the ladies.”

“He really was.”

They settle into a comfortable silence, both staring at the headstone. A cool wind blows around them, and it’s like Jus can feel the EJR on his watchband pressing into the skin of his once-swollen wrist.

“We should chill sometime,” Jus says. “You could come with me to New York one weekend or somethin’.”

There’s a beat and then: “I’d really like that, Justyce.” Jared turns to Jus and smiles.

Jus reads the words on Manny’s headstone: I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice. “Me too, Jared,” he says. “Me too.”

It goes without saying that a lot of time and effort and energy went into this project. My list of thanks to those most directly involved:

1. God—for everything.

2. Nigel—for believing in me and taking care of the children.

3. Pop, Marcus, Jeff, Jason, Jordan, Rachel W., Tanya, Shani, Becky, Reintgen, Michael, Ange, Jay, Wesaun, Elijah, Sarah H., Brandy, Dhonielle, Brendan, Ryy—for reading and encouraging.

4. Jodi—for…honestly there’s way too much to list, so I’m gonna go with for YOU.

5. Dede—for pushing and praying.

6. Jordan (again)—for keeping me on my toes.

7. Rena—for being my fairy god-agent AND my friend, and never letting me get ahead of myself. And letting me be annoying. And stubborn.

8. Elizabeth—for helping Phoebe rip me a new one.

9. Phoebe—for making me cut the thing in half and talking me down from multiple ledges. And for still loving me when I was being a jackass. (Seriously could not ask for a better editor, good lord.)

10. Mom and Dad—for making me.

11. Kiran and Milo—for being the reasons I do any of this.

12. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—for starting the fire. I hope I stoked the flames so it continues to burn.