In September, Marin arrives on campus for freshman orientation carrying only a duffel bag with some clothes, crackers, and a photograph of her mother. She meets Hannah, her roommate, and is suddenly struck by the realization that she looks “feral. Puffy face, wild eyes, greasy hair” (199). Marin laughs off her appearance, saying she “must look like a disaster!” and heading straight for the laundry room and the shower. Once bathed, she puts on the freshest of her dirty clothes and goes to the student store to buy new ones. After buying $300 worth of clothes and changing into one of the outfits, she returns to the dorm room to try again to make a good impression. She quickly realizes that she has nothing she needs—no sheets, no comforters, no pillows. Hannah’s family steps in, kindly supplying her with extras of the essentials they’d brought. Marin reflects that Hannah would continue to step in and save her, helping her acquire necessary items and smoothing over social situations.

In the present, Marin hangs the snowflake chain on her empty bulletin board. Hannah is enthusiastic when Marin texts her a picture. She notes that “it feels so good.