Anais Nin has known the actress Luise Rainer for about a year now. Luise arrived in Anais's life floating and flowing and graceful and expressive. She was so real that she wore no makeup in real life. Now, Anais seems turned off by Luise's lack of interest in her personal appearance; not only does she wear no makeup, she dresses negligently, doesn't paint her nails, wears neutral-colored clothing, and in general, appears to want to make herself less attractive.
The two women get into a bit of an argument about neurosis and psychoanalysis. Anais believes that the act of creating something (a novel, a painting, some music) is one way out of neurosis, and psychoanalysis (a discipline which requires confronting yourself) is the other. Luise then says something to Anais the next day which hurts her feelings, and Anais begins the process of ending the friendship which has become "destructive."
What initially attracted Anais to Luise now repels her. Disagreements that in the past, when the friendship was new, challenged and excited Anais now make her weary. Why does this happen, and at what point does it happen? Is there anything we can do to keep a friendship alive? The answer probably has something to do with managing expectations and handling disappointments.
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