Cherry reflects on her marriage to David Smith in Perth, describing a relationship defined by physical attraction but emotional incompatibility. David desired her body but disliked her personality, criticizing everything from her sneeze to her conversational style. Cherry recognizes that living with his unspoken contempt eroded her already fragile self-esteem. She contrasts his behavior in Perth with the earlier year in Wahroonga, where his parents' approval of her had made him more loving; once isolated in Perth, David's disdain became overt.

Life at their apartment complex, Beachside Blue, revolved around wild Friday-night rooftop parties attended by young, transplanted professionals. Cherry discovered that heavy drinking made her less awkward and more palatable to David. She began drinking excessively—Bacardi, vodka, tequila—progressing from weekend binges to nightly drinking. She describes the parties as fever dreams: spectacular sunsets, flirting, dancing, and dangerous antics on the unrailed rooftop. Cherry's background as the daughter of a fortune teller became a running joke as she drunkenly predicted someone falling from the balcony. She found work she enjoyed at the Australian Taxation Office doing data matching, but David mocked her for boring others with talk of it.

Cherry's drinking seeped into every night, and she began sleeping away entire weekends. David spent his free time diving with Stella. Eventually Cherry stopped taking her contraceptive pill, hoping a baby would save the marriage and reconnect her with family. David was thrilled at the idea. Months passed without conception, and after a year, at Stella's suggestion, David was tested first. He was found to have a zero sperm count—there was no chance of Cherry becoming pregnant.

David was devastated and furious, lacking any coping mechanisms for failure. He rejected Cherry's comfort and accused her of being relieved, citing something she'd said at a party years earlier about not wanting children. Cherry was shocked he had never raised this before and questioned why he'd married her if he believed she didn't want kids. David left to swim alone, and Cherry watched him walk toward the sea, heartbroken for him but realizing her feelings had never truly mattered to him.

Cherry went inside to answer the ringing phone. It was Auntie Pat calling to say Cherry's mother was seriously unwell, had been refusing to see a doctor for months, had read her own cards and determined she was dying. Pat urged Cherry to return to Sydney immediately.