Not Nothing

Alex shows up at Shady Glen and finds out they’re in lockdown after a stomach virus spread rapidly through the home. Alex is tasked with handing out food, as most of the staff are sick, and he goes from room to room putting down trays and quickly leaving. Eventually, he reaches Room 206, which belongs to Josey.

Alex knocks but Josey doesn’t answer, because he’s busy fixing a sweater. Josey often fixes things for the staff and other residents, as his family owned a clothing store. Josey describes his somewhat grim appearance, knowing that Alex notices and is intimidated by it. Alex quickly turns to leave and knocks a painting of Olka off the wall, catching it before it falls. Josey yells “Olka!” but Alex manages to fix it and hang it back up. Alex asks who Olka was, and finds out the name was short for Oleksandra, the Polish form of Alexandra—which is Alex’s mother’s name, and who he is named after. Josey then begins telling the story of how he and Olka met.

Josey found Olka unattractive at first, because she was always scowling.