Elena and Imma leave Naples for Turin in 1995, after Dede and Elsa have already gone to study in Boston. Going forward, Elena only visits Lila in Naples sporadically. In 2007, Elena publishes a book about Tina, under the title A Friendship. Lila refuses to talk to her thereafter.

After Tina’s loss, Lila’s grief is unbearable because there is no body to cling to. After a restless and fruitless search for her daughter, Lila returns to normal life, although she will not hear Tina’s name spoken.

The whole neighborhood, including the Solaras, are involved in the search for Tina. Armando Galiani, the son of Elena’s high school teacher, hypothesizes that Tina was killed by a truck which has since ended up in a scrapheap. This angers Lila who insists Tina is alive.