Sokolov is a 52-year-old professor at Lehman College, originally from Russia but living in the Bronx. He goes to the vet when his dog Lermontov is unable to go to the bathroom for multiple days. The veterinarian says that his dog is old at 13 years, especially old for a hound, and lucky to have survived this long. Sokolov reasons that the woman is young and does not understand that surviving in itself is not a blessing. The man learns that his dog has an intestinal blockage and that if the symptoms do not improve in two days, he will have to put Lermontov down. Sokolov cannot know that Lermontov is 13-years-old for sure because he originally belonged to Kelly, his ex-girlfriend. Sokolov met Kelly while she was reading a book, sitting with Lermontov, and was immediately fascinated by the doctoral student's beauty and intelligence. They both had an affinity for Russian literature, and Kelly called Sokolov "Gurov," though he did not call her Anna. The two got along well for a while and moved in together, but when Sokolov was diagnosed with cancer, it became a burden for the 28-year old woman to care for the middle-aged, complaining man. She made sure that his treatments went well, but once she knew that he had recovered, Kelly took a teaching position in Virginia and left, leaving Lermontov behind. Now, Sokolov has a dying dog and a chemo-poisoned body. He cannot attract women like he used to; when he was younger, any woman he wanted would sleep with him. One day, he notices the beauty of a barista named Amity at the coffee shop he frequents, but the young woman does not give the middle-aged man even a glance of interest. Sokolov continues to pine for her attention—even just one look—until one day when he is walking Lermontov, and he sees Amity crying at her job through the window. The woman catches his eye and stares at him until he looks away. Sakolov walks away from the coffee shop as Lermontov pulls him across the street. Lermontov, for the first time in days, relieves himself, and the two go back to Sokolov's apartment.