Summary

In Chapter 3, Boulder and Samsa drive to the clinic. Boulder observes the city through her window. “Samsa is relaxed” (51). After parking in their usual spot, Samsa hugs Boulder. Boulder feels Samsa is trying to include her, but still feels detached. She does not feel that “what they are going to do” to Samsa will also happen to her (51).

Boulder has a cigarette while Samsa goes inside. She tries to observe without thinking.

Inside, they are preparing Samsa’s eggs. Although she is nervous the insemination will not work, Boulder thinks there is a high probability she will get pregnant. Samsa seems foreign to her. Boulder feels unmoored. She is agitated by the TV playing images of a ruined road in the Middle East (53). She yells for the nurses to turn it off. Feeling trapped, Samsa wants another cigarette, a drink, or an escape.

After...