Yes. She wants to get it over with.

The relief of having a normal, friendly roommate began to wash away some of Dana's anxiety. She'd probably be open to talking about it, since we'll have to address it.

"So, Sarah. I'm wondering about your thoughts on something..."

"Yes?" Sarah responded.

"This whole dress code thing..." Dana was still so nervous to even say the word 'diaper'.

Sarah had a knowing look. "Yeah, with the diapers, you mean?"

Dana stopped folding a sweater, her heart doing a nervous stutter. "I was honestly holding out a tiny sliver of hope that there would be an email saying it was a joke."

"Me too," Sarah said, offering a wry, sympathetic smile. "But I checked the orientation schedule on the student portal this morning. At orientation we are going to be walked to the Health Center at four o'clock to pick up the diapers. We don't have to decide whether we want cloth or disposable yet; we can take a look and decide there."

Dana groaned, dropping her face into her hands. "I can't believe this is real. Do we really have to do this?"

"I asked myself that too." Sarah admitted, pulling her knees up to her chest. "But my older sister goes to Statesota State. She told me the guys in her dorm have an ongoing contest to see who can leave the worst bruises, and the RAs just look the other way, calling it 'traditional discipline.' She spends half her time terrified to walk to the library."

"When I weighed it out," Sarah continued softly, "diapers for nine months felt like a better deal than living in fear for four years. Here, the professors are brilliant, the campus is beautiful, and nobody is going to lay a hand on us. Ever."

"That's a very good point," Dana says, finally getting her words out comfortably. "I still don't like it. I consider it a humiliating tax levied on us girls simply for wanting an education in peace. But we don't have to navigate this indignity alone."

Sarah gives Dana a hug. Then they head to their shared orientation group. Dana thinks about what kind of diaper she will ultimately go with.