Gilbert Beilschmidt is working as an intern at a hospital. One day he stumbles upon what looks like a nearly forgotten patient. A poor comatose Canadian who has no loved ones and seemingly no hope for recovery. Gilbert decided to stay and chat. It becomes a repeated thing.

It should have been an issue that neither of them could speak the same language. Somehow, though, it did not matter if it was just a single door between them or a thousand miles; there was one language both of them understood. Love needed no words.

Prequel to Gutters. In the days leading up to The Calamity, the world braces and families struggle not to be torn apart.