Ben has not reached out to the protagonist, and she feels both relief and disappointment.
The protagonist is searching for a flat to rent in London with a budget of 800 pounds a month including bills.
After attending numerous viewings, she finds a potentially perfect flat with a room available.
The flat is located in Wandsworth and the room is offered by Jo Bowen (Joseph) and her flatmate Cam.
Jo works in the charity sector and Cam is a primary school teacher's assistant.
The flat is an old maisonette bought by Jo's mother, Winnie, in the seventies and includes a small garden.
The rent for the room is higher than the protagonist hoped but has advantages like space and inviting flatmates.
Previous flats viewed had issues, including bad hygiene from one flatmate and awkward interactions with others.
The protagonist enjoys a positive interaction with Jo and Cam, discussing life and getting to know each other.
They talk about work, books, and their social lives, creating a comfortable atmosphere unlike previous interviews.
The protagonist contemplates her own attractiveness in comparison to Jo, concluding that she has no reason to feel threatened as she has no partner to 'protect' from other women's beauty.
Jo and Cam decide the protagonist can have the room if she wants it, but they need someone to move in as soon as possible.
The protagonist's mother informs her of a single man, hinting at matchmaking.
The protagonist immediately sends Jo the deposit, making the decision to move into the flat without hesitation.
Despite back pain, the protagonist decides to care for her father, cooking him lasagna and handling his dinner routine.
She announces to her father her plans to move out, seeking his approval in her own way, but he is unresponsive due to his condition.
The protagonist reassures her father, and herself, that she will visit often after she moves out.
Emotional undercurrents are evident as she considers her father's illness and her upcoming independence.