Summary

In Chapter 1.3, one evening, Jude wakes up Willem in the middle of the night. Jude’s arm is badly bleeding, and he says that he cut himself by accident. Willem takes Jude to Andy Contractor, Jude’s friend and physician. Andy tells Willem to let him know in the future if Jude ever seems suicidal. Willem has always had an inkling that Jude cuts himself on purpose. For example, he has noticed over the years that Jude always wears long sleeves. Willem confronts Jude the next morning, but Jude simply says that everything is fine. Later, when Malcolm, JB, Jude, and Willem are spending time together, they accidentally become locked out on the roof of the apartment building. They regain access via a somewhat risky plan of entering through the rickety old fire escape.

In Chapter 2.1, the narrative shifts ahead a few years. Jude...