The story unveils as Jake, the main character, experiences the world for the first time in his adult life soberly. As an addict entering rehab, the raw emotions and relationships he engages in are initially turbulent. Slowly, we see Jake come out of his philosophical shell, only to meet the apathetic world. Overcoming mistakes and obstacles from his past, as well as newly arising ones, are a daily challenge for Jake. He experiences, in many respects, what we all experiencethe joys and sorrows of life, only magnified to the utmost intensity. For Jake, it is through the lens of a struggling twenty-one-year-old heroin addict, whose hatred of the world is calmed through the temperament of other compassionate characters and a serene beachside setting. His struggles as an addict become our struggles as readers, as his powerfully illuminated character reveals the light into a shadowy world.