Sasha meets up with Nicolas to visit his artist friend Serge. As they travel to Serge’s studio, they pass a hotel Sasha used to live in. She reminisces on her struggles during that time, as she fell into a deep depression and contemplated suicide. Sasha recalls how during this time, on one of her daily walks, she had a drink with a man who approached her on the street and complained about a young woman who had written him and requested money to buy new shoes. He asked Sasha back to his friend’s flat for another drink. After confessing that she had not eaten in three weeks, the man rushed away in a cab and left Sasha alone on the street.

Sasha and Nicolas arrive at Serge’s studio and observe a wall full of West African masks created by Serge. Serge dances in a mask to entertain Sasha. As the day continues and they converse, Sasha begins to cry. Despite Sasha’s aggressive request for alcohol, which she believes will “make me forget that once again I have given damnable human beings the right to pity me and laugh at me” (94), Serge gives Sasha tea, which calms her. The three friends discuss weeping.