Monika

Monika enters the narrative through another character’s explanation of why he has chosen her: she is the woman he says he loves, and their relationship is serious enough that he cannot continue as before. The account also gives her a past in Latvia and a possible future in education, but she does not speak for herself in the available passage.

Identity and Background

Monika is introduced by name when the man explains that they met at a hospitality venue in London, during an Ortho conference he attended in March. He describes her as Latvian and says that she had been training at catering school in Latvia before an opportunity brought her to London. These details establish a working and educational history rather than presenting her only as a romantic figure.

Relationship and Decision

The man insists that his connection with Monika is not merely casual and says he is in love with her. He tells the person he addresses, and the children, that he would not deliberately cause them pain, but also says he can no longer continue their former arrangement. His declaration makes Monika central to a consequential choice: he says he belongs with her and must try to make the relationship work, or risk regretting that he did not.

Ambition and Narrative Presentation

The account of Monika’s prospects remains the man’s interpretation. He portrays her as intelligent and expects she will do well if she returns to college, presenting education as a possible next step after her move to London. Because the passage gives no direct speech from Monika, her character is defined through the speaker’s defense of her and his hopes for her future. That limited perspective leaves her own intentions unconfirmed while making clear how strongly he frames his decision around their relationship.