Outline

That evening, Faye meets an old friend, Panitois, at a restaurant in the middle of the town. Panitois has told her that Angeliki, a successful novelist, may join them. Faye gets to the restaurant first. When Panitois arrives, he tells Faye that Angeliki is bound to hate the restaurant, as it is not fashionable enough. Panitois’s choice of restaurant was deliberate since he is sure not to run into anyone else there. Lately, he has lost all interest in socializing. 

Panitois recalls the last time he met Faye, which was in England three years ago. Faye had been accompanied by her husband and children. Panitois had left the lunch feeling like a failure since Faye’s life seemed so happy and complete in comparison. To capture the image of perfection, Panitois had asked to take a picture of Faye with her family. He has brought the picture with him today to show Faye. Faye replies that she remembers Panitois asking for the photo, but she feels sad that she made him feel like he had failed. Perhaps she had behaved insensitively at that lunch, which is why she was punished with her painful divorce.