Summary

Chapter Eight, Fall 2010, Markos Varvaris arrives home from his work at the medical clinic in Kabul. He finds there is a message from his childhood friend, Thalia, instructing him to call his mother. He does a little work but her message prompts him to finally make the call.

The story reverts to the summer of 1967. Markos lives in Greece with his mother, Odelia, who is a school teacher. His father died years earlier in a work-related accident. Odelia's friend Madeleine is planning to visit with her daughter, Thalia. Odelia warns Markos that Thalia has a horrible injury to her face and that he's to be considerate of her feelings.

Thalia and Madeleine arrive. Thalia wears a veil over the lower part of her face, covering her injury. Markos is both repelled and curious about her appearance. Odelia asks Markos to take a tray...