Ten months into her relationship, a woman doesn’t quite know what to think of her boyfriend. He never does what she expects—he’s brusque when she anticipates soft affection, and he goes above and beyond to see her when they’ve been distant for a while. For the past month, they’ve taken some time apart to decide whether or not to continue the relationship. One day, he finally calls her with a decision. He gives all the predictable excuses: “I just don’t see us working out in the long term.” “I hope we can still be friends.” One remark, though, sticks with the woman long after he hangs up. “There are things about you that I haven’t liked since the very beginning.” He doesn’t elaborate on this point, and after the call ends, the woman is stuck pondering what these things could be. He talks a lot about important things, and he likes others to do the same. On the other hand, her conversation dwells obsessively on the mundane and controllable, like her diet. Her ex-husband hadn’t liked that, either. Maybe the man doesn’t like that she mentions her ex-husband. Or maybe he doesn’t like her other odd neuroses. Or that she wears glasses, and they poke him in the eyes when they kiss. The woman looks at the moon outside, which reminds her of the city night when she and her boyfriend first met. After further contemplation, she turns on the television and tries to put his comment out of her mind. She’ll never be able to figure out exactly what flaws he meant.