"I know, Tess," he says, reaching out to her, and taking her hand. He wants her looking at him, because he means this very seriously.

"But it is not your goddamn responsibility. If you graduate and want to, then I'll be damn proud of you, and you'll have done a great thing. But it can never be the reason to graduate. You gotta do that for you, darlin', okay? It don't mean you're selfish. It just means you got your priorities in order."