The chapter is centered around a woman who is referred to as 'she', who is exploring her new found ability to be more direct and assertive in her actions.
She rationalizes her newfound assertiveness and freedom in decision-making, attributing it to a revelation about the nature of the universal wave function and quantum physics.
She boldly propositions Hugo, a man she appears to be attracted to, to share a room with her—despite his initial resistance.
However, the intimate encounter with Hugo turns out to be disappointing for her and she finds herself lost in existential thought in the middle of it. This is suggested by a quote by Albert Camus that comes to mind: "I may have not been sure about what really did interest me, but I was absolutely sure about what didn’t."
Another Camus quote also comes to mind, "If something is going to happen to me, I want to be there", which seems to reflect her desire to be a present and active participant in her own life and experiences.
She concludes that Hugo is perhaps more self-centered and withdrawn than she had initially thought. She speculates that his behaviour could be attributed to living many different lives, resulting in a strong focus on self-intimacy or isolation.
By the end of the chapter, she has left, indicating a premature end to their intimate encounter.