Susan is the child of two psychiatrists. Her social bubble consists almost exclusively of her parents' colleagues—who also work as psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers—and their children. Susan is particularly drawn to one of these colleagues, Milo, a fifty-year-old asexual male and an expert on child psychology. Milo and Susan form a special bond.  When Susan is nine years old, someone at a dinner party asks Susan if Milo is her aunt, and Susan is taken aback. This is the first time Susan notices and thinks about Milo's differences in terms of sexuality. Since Milo is single and childless, Susan's parents and their friends invite him to holiday gatherings, vacations, and other such events. They also often call him for advice when their children are acting up. In this manner, Milo does function much like an aunt; he refers to the children of his friends as his nieces.  In high school, Susan introduces her best friend, Anjali, to Milo. Anjali and Susan both think they would like to live like Milo when they grow up—that is, alone. Milo and Anjali also form a special bond, and they attend museum exhibitions together.  As time goes on, the parents of the friend group consult Milo less, since the children are growing up, and people begin to use the telephone less in general. They invite him less often to events and gatherings. They are also wary of rumors that he and Anjali, a teenager, were spending too much time together. He virtually gets kicked out of the friend group. Susan reveals that she and Anjali have both grown up to be married with kids. Susan is the only one who still keeps in touch with Milo.