"I don't know," I whisper, and there's a part of me, a small part, that resents him for telling me. Because what am I supposed to do with it. It took us a long time to get there, but Sam was one of my best friends. He was one person I knew I could always count on. Somebody I knew I could always go to, for anything.

And Mike doesn't even really remember that.

"He gave me this," I say, touching the charm around my neck. "For my birthday, last year. He said it's for protection." The carving was maybe a little clumsy, and it's worn a little, now, but I haven't taken it off in over a year. I've even replaced the cord a couple of times.