He heard a lot of stories. He would tie the names to the stories and this would allow him to remember. Greg the lacrosse player. Destiny from Detroit.

The stories had a lot of drama. The kids, new to campus, seemed to be going through more intense life changes than the things that happened at the co-ops off campus. But still, the stress seemed of a different kind.

The stress of having to share space at the co-op felt worse to him. Maybe it was because that had been what he just escaped. Maybe the grass was always just greener on the other side.

Dinners he would always have with some resident or coworkers. Sometimes both of them. The first time he had to eat alone was strange. He had by then actually been looking forward to having some time to himself. But as soon as he went to the caf he felt like there would be eyeballs on him. He would be judging himself, thinking the other people would wonder 'why is the 

intercultural aide

eating by themself'?

It had been a quiet weekend. Most of hte students had left the dorm to go home for the holidays. He had stuck around.