A science fiction writer discovers that he has an inoperable brain tumor and reflects on the first time he sent an email to his favorite writer, who is deceased.

A young writer wishing he had reached out to his favorite writer, Carl Lambert (who is deceased) decides to look up Carl's website. Upon finding a link for fan mail/correspondence, he sends an email of gratitude. The next morning he is surprised to have received a response. Angered by the potential cruelty of an imposter, he writes back. They continue to write back and forth, with the young writer eventually accepting that this could be Carl and promptly asks for advice on his writing. The young writer becomes successful with Carl's mentorship and friendship. In the final correspondence, the young writer reveals to Carl that he has an inoperable brain tumor (which is what Carl has passed away from as well) and Carl reveal how he, a "dead" man, has been corresponding through a system that he set up which keeps him "immortal" through computer science and physics. He passes his secret on and the young writer sets up a version of this as well in case someone should reach out to him after he passes.