Chapters 20-21 and Epilogue Summary

Jeff quits his job and leaves his wife, making as much money as he can in the short term. He gets his own apartment in New York. He is in grief for losing Pamela finally this time. Jeff has a drink with a girl at the station who is concerned about him, and she winds up talking about her own life. She's unsure whether to marry her boyfriend or not, unsure of how to move forward with her life. Jeff sympathizes with her, seeing in her the eternal human story.

Jeff hires a private investigator to get information on Pamela. He follows her one day when she comes into New York. He follows her into a museum, and they end up talking. They have lunch together, talking about art. As they are about to part, he asks...