Pax Monnier, an unsuccessful actor, had already said goodbye to his dreams of fame, but a sudden call from his agent changed everything. A famous director wants to cast him in his new film, but to do this, you need to meet with him immediately. Hastily putting on his jacket, the hero hears the sounds of a struggle in the apartment upstairs, but convinces himself that nothing terrible is happening. Returning home, he learns that his neighbor, nineteen-year-old student Alexis, was severely beaten. The attack leads to irreversible consequences for the young man’s health, and Pax falls into a psychological trap, trying to move on with his life, despite remorse. Cowardice, the inability to cope with one's feelings, unexpected turns of fate and betrayal are the central themes of the novel, whose heroes are ordinary people, just like you and me.