Bernice, a young black graduate student, narrates the events that lead to his sister's death.

In the beginning, both are young professionals in Brooklyn. Her sister, Bernice, works as a high school guidance counselor. Silas is a graduate student staying in his sister's apartment while looking for adjunct teaching jobs.

Bernice is ecstatic to find a man of her dreams, a DJ named Dove, whom she meets staring at her on the streets of Brooklyn. They commence a whirlwind romance that lasts two months, and get married despite the disapproval of her mother.

The marriage is strained and unhappy. Dove turns out to be immature and irresponsible. Bernice becomes increasingly irritable and depressed over the course of the following months. The living arrangement, in a tiny Brooklyn apartment, which includes the both of them along with Silas, is too cramped for the three of them. Bernice descends into a lonely scholarly obsession over library books, and comes to resent the presence of Dove.

The situation elevates into a crisis when Bernice, at the height of her bitterness, has a stroke. She dies in the hospital dramatically with her mother at her side, calling everyone, including the doctors, Dove, and Silas "murderers."

Silas grieves, wondering if there was anything he could have done to save her. If he had been more than just a witness — an observer of this suffocating marriage — could she have lived?

Dove, in the meantime, spirals into depression, unable to shake off the mother's accusation of murder and the bitterness of a loveless marriage. Months later, Silas drills the blame into Dove despite feeling his own private guilt, and the two part on resentful, regretful terms.