Switzerland
By Nicole Krauss, first published in The New Yorker
A young woman reminisces about her friend with whom she lost contact. She thinks of her friend's past and tries to get in touch with her.
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Plot Summary
A young woman reminisces about her friend Soraya and wonders how she is currently. The two had met at a boarding school in Switzerland. She remembers how as their friendship developed, she began to realize that Soraya had been secretly prostituting herself to men. One day, Soraya met a banker and began prostituting herself to him. The woman started to fear for her friend as Soraya began returning with bruises. When summer arrived, the girls left school, and Soraya went to Paris. However, when Soraya returned from Paris, she become more introverted. One day, Soraya left the school and didn't return. Everyone began to panic, and Soraya’s father came to the school. The police were about to commence the search, when Soraya returned. However, her makeup was ruined, and her eyes were bloodshot. Her father hugged her and took her to Paris so that they could live together. This separation caused the two girls to fall out of touch. The woman now decides to vacation in Paris with the hopes of finding her friend. She has no success and eventually marries and has children. One of her children looks just like Soraya, and she claims her long-lost friend is haunting her.