Between Us

Nelson and Sarah have been married three years. Their intimacy amounts to six encounters in that span, each one leaving Sarah in severe physical pain and emotional aversion. She wears shapeless nightclothes to deter him. He loves her but cannot accept a sexless marriage. Nelson meets Angel during a chance encounter and takes her number. He also crosses paths with Chi, a friend of Sarah's who mistakes him for Sarah's brother. Sarah confides in Chi about the dysfunction and the failed medications. Chi suggests an Ayurvedic therapist in Ghana. Nelson begins an affair with Angel. Her obsession escalates quickly — she steals his clothes to smell them, plots to meet his sister under false pretenses, and pours a substance into Sarah's orange juice. Angel seeks therapy for her fixation, admitting she fell for a married man who never disclosed his status. Chi visits the couple's home and discovers Nelson is Sarah's husband, not her brother, realizing she has been maneuvered into proximity with them. Sarah researches cuddling techniques to avoid triggering intimacy while Nelson daydreams about Angel even while holding Sarah. Angel confronts Nelson in his home, accusing him of wrecking her life and demanding he choose her. Nelson pleads for her to leave his marriage alone. Angel refuses, declaring that sorry cannot fix what he has done. Nelson finally confesses the affair to Sarah. She is devastated, realizing she welcomed Angel into their home, fed and housed her, while her husband betrayed her. Nelson admits the affair was his fault, acknowledging their marital intimacy amounted to six times in three years. A therapist confronts Angel, urging her to release her obsession and not destroy another woman's marriage. Angel, broken, agrees to leave and reveals she has applied for a visa. Nelson orders her out of the house, but at Sarah's urging he apologizes to Angel.