The instructor, who was supposed to be this well-known writer, even though Aviad had never heard of him, told her that there was something soul-piercing about the banality of the ending, or some other piece of crap. Aviad saw how happy that compliment made Maya.

This last sentence was all Avichai needed to take the outstretched hand and shake it.

For the first time in his life, someone owed him a favor. Someone who thought his name was Meir, but still.