On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center change New York City forever. A lawyer named Keith Neudecker wanders through the chaotic streets and watches the hurt, terrified people scramble through the dust and wreckage. When Keith feels that he can go no further, an old truck appears, and the driver offers to take Keith wherever he needs to go.

Keith asks the truck driver to take him to the apartment belonging to his estranged with, Lianne. Though Keith and Lianne’s relationship was once intensely passionate, they grew apart from one another. Eight years later, Lianne still reflects on how their marriage turned from a passionate, love-filled relationship into the “eventual extended grimness” (9) it became. Three days later, Lianne talks to her mother, Nina, about how Keith arrived at her door covered in gray soot and blood. She is happy that their young son Justin was not home to see his father in such a disheveled state. Lianne eventually took Keith to a hospital. Nina warns Lianne not to let the recent tragedy affect her judgment regarding Keith, but she understands how everyone is still in shock following the attacks.