During the Y2K Scare in 1999, the father of the unnamed narrator becomes increasingly anxious about a potential worldwide infrastructure collapse. While racing to his in-laws' countryside home, the family gets involved in a car accident. Years later after a stint in jail, the narrator moves in with his grandparents who struggle with their own physical and mental difficulties.
When his grandmother unexpectedly regains clarity, they embark on a daring adventure. While crossing the Barricades, which separate the rural areas from the city, tragedy strikes as his grandparents take their own lives. The story then moves forward to when the narrator works in a flood-ridden area and encounters two defiant women.
Another time leap brings us to a period plagued by deadly flu where the narrator resides in the desert with his girlfriend, Margo. Their lives take a new turn as they find themselves in a town affected by fires and environmental hazards.
As more years pass, the narrator and Margo form a union entwined with a powerful senator named Juliet. Seeking stability, the narrator desires a more committed relationship. However, Margo's impulsiveness complicates their plans leading to destructive consequences, including a forest fire.
Further into the future, the narrator finds himself in a secluded community responsible for a teenager named Jeph. In a bargain for medical assistance, the narrator helps Jeph but ultimately abandons him when their goals diverge.
The narrative shifts again as a new government emerges. Meanwhile, the narrator interviews for a new job. Years elapse and the narrator becomes a guide for rich individuals with terminal sicknesses. Battling cancer himself, he feels an intense yearning to reunite with his father who now identifies as a shaman. During the journey, the narrator's coughing intensifies revealing the severity of his illness. The father closes his eyes symbolizing the end to the narrator's journey.
