At university, Carmen meets Hussain, a young Afghan poet who is studying French literature. This encounter changes both their lives: falling in love, they become inseparable. Charles is distraught at losing her. The only reason he doesn’t crack up is his friend, Miguel, who teaches him flamenco. Hussain learns that his asylum application has been rejected. Carmen is terrified every time he goes outside. So the couple stay in and spend their time making love, until Hussain suddenly has the feeling she is watching him. He can no longer write, feels suffocated and needs to leave. Hussain disappears from her life as suddenly as he appeared. He leaves because of love: falling in love with a foreigner means involving her in his own battle. Charles has not given up. He walks with Carmen under the trees along the Saône. When she nears the riverbank, he knows she wants to disappear forever. So he watches over her, his love for her intact, a calm, powerful presence.